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Panel critiques 2025 SONA for lack of clarity and strategy

By Gofaone Motsamai and Phenyo Mokgothu

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) School of Governance Studies hosted a panel discussion on Friday, 14 February 2025 on the Mahikeng Campus.

The discussion aimed to critically analyse President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), focusing on key themes, omissions and broader political implications.

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NWU named title sponsor for North West Dragons domestic games in 2025

The North-West University (NWU) emphasised its dedication to supporting the North West Dragons as the franchise’s title sponsor for the 2025 domestic games.

The partnership was officially unveiled during a special launch event held on 12 February at the NWU Potchefstroom Campus. North West Cricket (NWC) proudly revealed the team’s newly branded NWU kit, symbolising a strengthened relationship between the institution and the franchise.

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Postponement of Budget will have unintended consequences

The unprecedented decision by the Government of National Unity (GNU) Cabinet to postpone the Budget until 12 March because of disagreement over tax increases will inevitably have unintended consequences for South Africa’s political economy.

Prof Raymond Parsons, economist from the NWU Business School, says if the eventual Budget in March turns out to be truly committed to growth and job creation (as was outlined in the recent GNU Medium Term Development Plan) the delay would have been worthwhile if the GNU gets agreed trade-offs and better outcomes for the economy as a whole.

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NWU students join prestigious incubation programme

Three North-West University (NWU) innovators have earned a place in the highly competitive Emerging30 Innovators Programme, an initiative led by the Young African Entrepreneurship Institute (YAEI). Their journey began during the 2024 Youth Innovation Challenge, held as part of the YAEI & ABSA Entrepreneurship Week on the Potchefstroom Campus.

This challenge provided a platform for young entrepreneurs to pitch their groundbreaking ideas, ultimately paving the way for their participation in the prestigious 12-month incubation programme.

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Education Association of South Africa awards Prof Elsa Mentz their medal of honour

A mindset change in favour of self-directed learning could solve many of the problems in education and possibly in the workplace too, according to award-winning North-West University (NWU) expert Prof Elsa Mentz.

The Education Association of South Africa (EASA) awarded Prof Mentz the EASA Medal of Honour during its annual conference at Sun City in January.

Prof Mentz is the director of the NWU Research Unit for Self-Directed Learning– believed to be the only such unit in the international education research community.

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GIFT research niche area welcomes a Barolong Boo Ratlou Ba GA Seitshiro delegation

By Oscar Mosiane and Precious Miyambu

A partnership between the Barolong Boo Ratlou Ba Ga Seitshiro tribe and the North-West University (NWU) is taking shape.

On 11 February the NWU’s Global Innovative Forefront Talent (GIFT) research niche area hosted a delegation led by His Majesty Chief Charles Moshoette of the Barolong Boo Ratlou Ba Ga Seitshiro tribe at the Mahikeng Campus.

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Master’s student chosen for international poultry science programme

There is much for Lihle Sindaku, a North-West University (NWU) MSc Agriculture student, to crow about after her selection to an international poultry programme that bridges academic study and industry insights.

Understanding the complexities of poultry production requires both research and industry exposure, which the 2025 World’s Poultry Science Association (WPSA) Youth Programme provides. Taking place in Pretoria from 2 to 7 March 2025, the programme runs alongside the 41st Scientific Symposium of the South African Branch of WPSA.

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Annual master’s degree research retreat promotes collaborative learning

The School of Industrial Psychology and Human Resource Management (IPS & HRM) at the North-West University (NWU) recently held its highly anticipated annual master’s degree research retreat at Stonehenge River Lodge in Parys.

This two-day affair, organised by Dr Neil Barnard and Prof Marissa Brouwers, successfully brought together students, academic staff and guest speakers to enhance research capabilities and promote collaborative learning. The sponsors of the event included the Optentia and WorkWell research units.

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Two-week long coding school explores data science and computational thinking

Over the past two weeks, from 27 January to 7 February, registered postgraduate students from the North-West University (NWU), alongside other participants from across the Southern African Development Community (SADC), engaged themselves in the fields of data science and computational thinking. In a world of data-driven decision-making, they acquired vital skills that will influence their futures.

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