The importance of alumni involvement in shaping the future of the North-West University (NWU) and ensuring its transformation was stressed during a recent reunion for BEd alumni.

On 26 September, the Alumni Office, in collaboration with the Faculty of Education, hosted a memorable reunion for BEd alumni, bringing together graduates from various years.

The event was an opportunity for alumni to reconnect, share their professional journeys and reflect on their time at the university.

Visiting universities is a critical step towards empowering students, as future leaders, to understand the role of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB).

Dr Mampho Modise, Deputy Governor of the SARB, made this observation during her prestige lecture on 21 October 2024, at the North-West University (NWU), Potchefstroom Campus.

In her lecture, Dr Modise outlined the role of the SARB and spoke about the importance of monetary policy, financial stability and economic statistics.

The School of Nursing at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus has launched a potentially life-saving community engagement project aimed at supporting pregnant women living with HIV/Aids and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

 “Gestational diabetes and HIV/Aids pose significant health risks to pregnant women and their unborn children. This project aims to empower women and enhance collaborative care,” explains the project leader, Dr Edith Bam.

The School of Computer Science and Information Systems (SCSIS) at the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University held its annual Honours Project Presentation Day on 10 October 2024 at The Roots venue in Potchefstroom. The event showcased the innovative projects and research conducted by the school’s 32 honours-degree students, providing a platform for them to present their research findings and group projects.

Transport is the backbone of any thriving economy, and in South Africa it is a lifeline that connects people to opportunities, businesses to markets, and communities to essential services. Transport Month, celebrated in October, provides a moment to reflect on the critical role transport plays in our daily lives, our economy, and our future. It is also an opportunity to renew our collective commitment to building an efficient, safe, and accessible transport system for all.

The Food Resilience Unit in the Department of Social Development at the City of Johannesburg recently partnered with Technology Transfer and Innovation Support (TTIS) at the North-West University (NWU) to host an Intellectual Property (IP) Awareness Workshop. The aim of the workshop was to equip agro-processors and emerging farmers to understand how to protect their innovations. The event was held in Johannesburg on 11 October and brought together these small businesses and experts to engage on how to safeguard innovations and gain competitive advantage through IP protection.

For artificial intelligence (AI) to become a tool for economic empowerment without worsening existing inequalities, various ethical considerations around AI must be addressed.

This is according to Evans Mohlatlole, a lecturer in the subject group Social Work at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus.

Evens, who is also the acting deputy director of the School of Psychosocial Health, won the Best Oral Presenter Award at the 2024 Ubuntu Africentric Conference.

The countdown to this year’s Cybathlon 2024 has begun for local supporters of the NWU Eagles Cybathlon team, who had an enthusiastic send-off on 18 October.

The Cybathlon is a prestigious event organised by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and takes place in Kloten, north of Zürich. It is a global platform focusing on innovation and assistive technologies and is an excellent benchmarking opportunity for the NWU to see how its innovations compare internationally.

The Potchefstroom and Vanderbijlpark campuses of the North-West University (NWU) held their 2024 final-years’ functions on Wednesday, 10 October, creating a festive feeling among the students.

At the events, around 1 300 students from the Potchefstroom Campus and 700 students from the Vanderbijlpark Campus gathered to take pictures and videos, reflecting on their experiences at the university. With loads of fun and good company in order, the events also served as platforms for students to bid farewell to their peers.

As the NWU delegation’s visit under the leadership of principal and vice-chancellor, Prof Bismark Tyobeka to the North Carolina State University (NCSU) comes to an end, it is great to reflect on the many successful and insightful engagements. What a rewarding experience. The delegation will leave the United States with a reinvigorated purpose, knowing that the NWU is on track to further grow the university’s global footprint.