Thirty-one thousand. That is the conservative estimate of the current teacher shortage in South Africa. Classrooms are overcrowded, with ballooning learner-to-teacher ratios, especially in rural and under-resourced schools. This severely impacts dropout rates and education quality.

This is not where the woes of future learners end. It is estimated that nearly half the teaching workforce will retire within the next decade, meaning the demand for new teachers will only keep increasing.

Kamogelo Noge, a Master of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (MIKS) student at the North-West University (NWU) Mahikeng Campus, recently embarked on an educational journey to the industrial city of Incheon in South Korea.

Noge was honoured to partake in the Korean Conference on Education, which ran from Monday, 28 October to Friday, 1 November at the Songdo Convensia – an international exhibition and convention centre.

The Water Research Group in the Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management (UESM) at the North-West University (NWU) launched Prof Paul Skelton’s new edition of the book titled Freshwater Fishes of Southern Africa – A Complete Guide on Monday, 4 November.

The book launch marked the anniversary of the NWU’s longstanding partnership with the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (NRF-SAIAB).

North-West University (NWU) Graphic Design lecturer and artist Danelle Heenop will take part in a sensational group art exhibition at the Alliance Française de Pretoria, located at the hub of diplomatic embassies and the Loftus stadium.

The groundbreaking exhibition, Infinite Perspectives, will be on display from 7 November to 6 December, and it explores the relationship between art, memory, identity and human experience. In addition, it brings together the innovative works of four contemporary South African artists: Bevan de Wet, Danelle Heenop, Mark Modimola and Lisa Younger.

Nadia van Jaarsveldt, an Industrial Engineering student pursuing her master’s degree with a topic in agriculture, was recognised for her outstanding presentation at the South African Institute of Agricultural Engineers (SAIAE) and Pan African Society for Agricultural Engineering (PASAE) International Symposium 2024.

Held at the Houw Hoek Hotel in Grabouw, Western Cape, the symposium served as a landmark event. It ran from Wednesday, 23 October to Friday, 25 October, bringing together brilliant minds in agricultural engineering.

On 4 November 2024, the North-West University (NWU) celebrated a momentous occasion – the 50th birthday of its principal and vice-chancellor, Prof. Mzubanzi Bismark Tyobeka. This milestone coincided with the university’s 20th anniversary, creating a unique and symbolic double celebration. For Prof. Tyobeka, it was a day that not only marked his personal journey but also reflected the growth and transformation of the institution he has helped shape.

In South Africa, a country still shadowed by the legacies of the past and grappling with complex social and economic challenges, the Population and Health Research Entity at the North-West University (NWU) offers a striking vision of hope. Nestled within the Faculty of Humanities on the Mahikeng Campus, this research entity has grown into a research powerhouse since it was founded in 2007.

The History of Art subject group, which is located in the School of Communication, held its inaugural industry summit on Tuesday, 22 October on the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University (NWU), bringing industry experts to our students.

Students from the History of Art subject group attended the event and gained first-hand knowledge of the work and daily lives of practitioners in the industry. Members of the BKhz Gallery shared their professional journeys and how they had crafted different careers in the industry.

In an exciting accomplishment, the North-West University (NWU) has received global recognition for its excellence in online and technology-enhanced education through the prestigious 2023-2024 International Benchmarking Report. This remarkable achievement not only highlights the NWU's high standards but also sets a new bar for digital education worldwide, particularly in safeguarding personal data.

What is the International Benchmarking Initiative?

The pivotal and definitive outcome of the historic United States (US) elections for control of the White House and the Congress has wide-ranging implications for the US economy and for the rest of the world.

In commenting on the outcome of the crucial 2024 US elections, Prof Raymond Parsons, economist from the North-West University (NWU) Business School says the American electorate has spoken.