By Gofaone Motsamai

The Khayalethu Residence at the Mahikeng Campus of the North-West University (NWU) recently hosted an academic symposium aimed at empowering students with knowledge on research, artificial intelligence (AI) and entrepreneurship.

The event provided a platform for students to engage with experts in various fields, gaining insight into emerging technologies, business innovation and academic research resources.

AI in academia: embracing the future

By Gofaone Motsamai and Nikelo Mehlomakulu

The evolution of South Africa’s intelligence services and the academic study of intelligence science took centre stage at a public lecture hosted by the North-West University (NWU) on 3 April 2025. Delivered by retired lecturer and intelligence expert Henning van Aswegen, the lecture explored the historical foundations, transformation and modern-day challenges of intelligence in South Africa.

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Vanderbijlpark Campus is set to host Purple Con, a vibrant celebration of anime, gaming and pop culture inspired by the renowned Comic-Con.

Organised by the NWU Anime Student Society in collaboration with the Faculty of Humanities and the Sports department, this one-day convention will take place on 26 July 2025.

Aspiring entrepreneurs from the Vanderbijlpark Campus of the North-West University (NWU), alongside members of the local community, recently gathered for an enlightening masterclass led by successful entrepreneur and author Willem Gous.

The event focused on equipping participants with the knowledge, tools and mindset required to successfully launch and manage side businesses.

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) School of Industrial Psychology and Human Resource Management (IPHRM) recently hosted a pivotal work readiness workshop for its honours and master’s students.

This initiative brought together industry experts to share valuable insights on graduate employability, industry expectations, and effective preparation for the workforce.

The unexpected decision by President Donald Trump to suspend the reciprocal United States (US) tariffs on non-retaliatory countries for 90 days pending further negotiations has prompted a strong rebound in financial markets and a modification of previous gloomy economic forecasts.

Prof Raymond Parsons, economist from the North-West University (NWU) Business School, says this decision now creates a welcome window of opportunity for many countries, including South Africa, to negotiate with the US for lower tariffs.

In the ever-evolving landscape of academia, certain institutions stand out not only for their age or size, but also for their unyielding commitment to curiosity and innovation. North-West University (NWU) in South Africa exemplifies this spirit, particularly through its Focus Area for Pure and Applied Analytics (PAA) research entity. This group is not only pushing the boundaries of mathematical and statistical sciences, but also redefining how these disciplines intersect with real-world applications.

In a noteworthy seminar hosted by the School of Social Sciences at the North-West University (NWU) on Friday, 4 April, Dr Pedro Mzileni, a senior lecturer in the Department of Sociology at the University of Zululand, delivered a captivating case study on the “Coloniality of academic freedom” in South Africa’s higher-education sector.

Her name is called. It is Tuesday, 8 April, just past 16:00 in the afternoon. This is her moment: the culmination of three years of dedication. It is graduation day. She takes a breath and, with a radiant smile, walks across the auditorium stage on the Potchefstroom Campus of North-West University (NWU). Her eyes find a familiar face seated at the centre of the stage, beaming with pride. She walks towards him and bends down as Prof Bismark Tyobeka, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the NWU, officially caps his daughter.

The scale of the further wide-ranging United States (US) unilateral tariff hikes announced by President Donald Trump will not only drive a huge wedge into the world’s multilateral trading system but is also bad news for the South African economy.