International Mother Language Day is celebrated globally every year on 21 February to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. First proclaimed by UNESCO in November 1999, the day honours the students in Dhaka, Bangladesh, who bravely fought in 1952 for the recognition of the Bengali language.
A rainy afternoon at the iconic JB Marks Oval on 4 March 2026 may have brought play to a halt, but it did little to dampen the significance of the moment as the North-West University (NWU) and North West Cricket (NWC) marked the strengthening of their partnership during the One Day Cup clash between the North West Dragons and the DP World Lions.
While the match itself was cancelled due to rain, the partnership launch went ahead, emphasising the shared commitment that extends far beyond a single fixture.
Balancing ecological preservation with tourism development is vital for the future of South Africa’s protected areas. This is one of the lessons North-West University (NWU) honours students learnt during an educational visit to one of Africa’s most iconic nature reserves, the Kruger National Park.
The visit deepened the seven tourism management students’ understanding of nature-based tourism, which brings together conservation and tourism management.
The war in Iran is escalating, with Tehran responding to US–Israel attacks with missile and drone strikes across the region. Operation Epic Fury and Israel’s Operation Roaring Lion began on 28 February 2026.
More than 7 000 km to the south, Prof. Barend Prinsloo, Director of the Centre for Geopolitical Security and Strategy at the North-West University (NWU), warns that South Africa will soon feel the effects through energy prices, shipping patterns and political exposure.
The start of the academic year can be a challenging time for many students, especially those waiting for financial aid disbursements.
This year, Student Life on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Vanderbijlpark Campus partnered with Checkers Sixty60 to provide relief to students facing food insecurity through a special food parcel initiative.
When the local and global sport management community gathers in Cape Town for the 5th World Association for Sport Management (WASM) conference from 3 to 6 March 2026, it will represent far more than a prestigious academic meeting. It will be a moment of pride, progress and possibility for sport management in South Africa and Africa. With the theme: Global visions, Local actions: Innovation and Sustainability in Sport Management, the conference will be the intersection where global insight meets local passion.
Matric learners at Tshidi Barolong Secondary School received guidance on academic and career pathways when alumni from the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus visited them on 21 February 2026.
The Mahikeng Young Alumni Chapter aimed to prepare learners for their final exams and post-matric life. The session focused on education, resilience, relationships with teachers and transitioning to university and the workplace. More than 200 Grade 12 learners attended the event. The alumni office also donated pencil cases to the grade 12 learners as part of the outreach.
By Gosego Phutieagae
A team of young engineers from the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Potchefstroom Campus is fine tuning their robot ahead of the National Robotics Competition taking place in Cape Town.
The team, who call themselves the St331 Soarers, qualified for the national event after placing second at the regional event held in February for most innovative robot design.
By Mzwandile Ndlovu
When North-West University (NWU) senior lecturer Dr Salphinah Vuloyimuni Ubisi reached a new milestone in her career with a publishing award, she was quick to praise her later supervisor.
In December 2025, she was awarded the 2024 Hiddingh-Currie Award at a ceremony hosted by Unisa for her autobiography, Vuloyimuni: How Research on Hostels, Housing and Intergovernmental Relations Took Me to My Roots.
Despite having some of the fastest-growing economies in the world, with a combined population of well over 1 billion people, Africa still trades predominantly with the rest of the world rather than with itself. Some estimates place intra-African trade at only about 15%. This is a strikingly low figure compared to other regions, such as Europe and Asia, which boast high levels of intra-regional trade supported by strong regional value chains.