Accounting matters. A lot. Say ‘accounting’ and most of us immediately think of bean counters and book balancers. But, especially in a developing country like South Africa, accounting sciences play a crucial role in fostering economic growth and stability, and accountants play a critical role in ensuring transparent financial management that helps to attract foreign investment and enhance local businesses. They fight corruption, their expertise enables effective resource allocation and they are the custodians of fiscal responsibility.

Each step is more exciting than the previous one as the destination comes more clearly into view. On Wednesday, 8 May, a delegation from North-West University (NWU) met with general practitioners and specialists in the private sector in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District to provide an overview of the university’s journey to implement the NWU Medical School.

The event, held at the C’est La Belle venue in Klerksdorp, also aimed to brief the practitioners on the modules that the Medical School will offer and to extend an invitation to participate in these modules on a voluntary basis.

A groundbreaking collaboration between the North-West University (NWU) Business School and Naledi Ringrollers (Pty) Ltd is now in its third year. This initiative aims to fund young, upcoming entrepreneurs who can help address socio-economic issues such as unemployment, inequality and poverty by imparting entrepreneurial skills and education.

The North-West University (NWU) marked World Intellectual Property Day 2024 with vibrant celebrations across our Mahikeng and Potchefstroom campuses on 25 and 26 April. This year's theme, focusing on leveraging intellectual property for the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), drew an enthusiastic crowd comprising students, researchers and representatives from various state agencies.

At the World Intellectual Property Day celebrations on 25 and 26 April 2024, the Mahikeng and Potchefstroom campuses of the North-West University (NWU) were buzzing with events. This year's focus was on how intellectual property can help achieve the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the events drew students, researchers and state agency representatives.

In Potchefstroom, two exhibitors highlighted the role of ancient grains in achieving zero hunger (SDG 2), building on Prof Sydney Mavengahama's presentation in Mahikeng on the same topic.

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Humanities has another cause for celebration. Prof David Scott-Macnab, a B2-rated researcher with the National Research Foundation and professor in English literature, has been awarded a prestigious Leverhulme Foundation visiting professorship at the Centre for Medieval Studies at Bristol University in the UK.

These awards are highly competitive with a success rate of 6-8%, making an award at the University of Bristol, one of the UK’s 24 research-intensive Russell Group universities, even more of an accomplishment.

The Geekulcha Student Society on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Vanderbiljpark Campus recently hosted an Ideathon, a cybersecurity training and idea-generation event that brought together more than 100 industry experts and participants.

This formed part of a series of ideathons for training, idea generation and pre-selection as a build-up to the Security Summit 2024 Hackathon, which is set to take place on 4 and 5 June 2024 at the Sandton Convention Centre.

It is a dream for many young scientists – to be in the presence of some of the world’s most revered scientific minds. This dream is coming true for a graduate of the North-West University (NWU). Dr Sarah McKee is one of only eight young scientists from South Africa who have been chosen to attend the 73rd Lindau Nobel laureate meeting in Germany.

The North-West University (NWU) has launched a new educational card game called Prosper to celebrate World IP Day in 2024. The game is all about using intellectual property (IP) to teach people about the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The High Performance in Sport Management Conference 2024, hosted by the High-Performance Institute (HPI) of the North-West University (NWU), took place at the NWU Sports Village from 23 to 24 April.

The goal of the conference was to explore innovative developments, industry best practices and creative approaches that boost sports performance and administration.

The notable speakers included Prof Liandi van den Berg, associate professor at the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at the NWU, and Prof Jacques Faul, an associate professor at the NWU Business School.