By Gofaone Motsamai

A robot powered by artificial intelligence (AI) has made its debut as the newest library assistant at the North-West University (NWU).

The AI-powered assistant, currently in its testing phase at the Ferdinand Postma Library at the NWU’s Potchefstroom Campus, is designed to help students navigate the library, making it easier and quicker for them to find what they need. This is a major step forward in modernising the NWU’s campus libraries and enhancing student experience.

In a moment that left both her and her colleagues in awe, Suanne de Bruyn, a North-West University (NWU) alumnus and dedicated social worker at Lerato Child and Youth Care Centre (CYCC), was recently honoured with the esteemed Hope Bearer Award. This award celebrates her tireless commitment to improving the lives of children and families, especially those dealing with trauma and adversity.

They may have exited the 2025 Varsity Cup, but the North-West University (NWU) Eagles did so in spectacular fashion, making a lasting impression on the competition. In their last match of the tournament, at the well-lit Fanie Du Toit Sports Ground on Monday, 31 March, the Eagles destroyed Central University of Technology (CUT) with a stunning 117-19 victory, setting a new record.

A season filled with determination

The North-West University (NWU) took a consultative and agile approach to enhance its software acquisition processes. A dedicated breakaway workshop served as the starting point for this initiative, bringing together stakeholders to address missing or misaligned processes and governance structures.

"Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world." These words by Nelson Mandela encapsulate the spirit of a recent initiative by the North-West University (NWU) Mahikeng Campus Student Campus Council (SCC).

This initiative provided primary school learners from Ditsobotla Public School in Lichtenburg, Boikhutso, with a transformative experience through an induction and university exposure programme.

The landscape of education is transforming at an unprecedented pace, driven by the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI). This year’s iTLT Digital Futures Symposium, themed “Accelerating education through AI: Collaborative innovation for the future”, brought together leading experts from around the world to explore the ways AI is reshaping teaching and learning.

The North-West University (NWU) Petroglyph Research Group, which is part of the Visual Narratives and Creative Outputs (ViNCO) and Musical Arts in South Africa: Resources and Applications (MASARA) guest lecture series, recently hosted an insightful seminar on the preservation and restoration of Khoe-San rock carvings. This seminar was presented by researchers At Lamprecht, Lynette Boardman, Theuns de Klerk, and Charl Yates, who discussed their groundbreaking work, and highlighted the role of technology in the conservation of indigenous heritage.

On Friday, 7 March, students and staff gathered at the Vanderbijlpark campus garden, near Kumba Residence to take part in an inspiring initiative led by Prof Magda Kloppers and the staff of the School of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education (SMSTE) at the Faculty of Education.

The gathering marked the launch of the "Adopt a 4-Door-Sized Spot" Garden Project, a movement aimed at fostering food security, sustainability, and community engagement on campus.

There is a small brick building on Watauga Club Drive here in Raleigh, North Carolina. There is something different about it, something that distinguishes it from the other academic structures on the campus of the North Carolina State University (NCSU). It is old, very old. Primrose Hall was originally opened in 1896 and now houses the Office of Global Engagement.

Is the Constitutional Court within its powers when it rules against decisions made in Parliament? Or is it stepping across the line between separate branches of government?

Setting out to answer these questions, the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Law is set to host a public lecture, “The functions of an apex court: Who empowered 11 unelected judges to strike down laws of a democratically elected parliament?” on Wednesday, 2 April 2025.