Ahead of the opening of the 2026 academic year, Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela led a high-level oversight visit to the North-West University. Joined by Waseem Carrim, the acting chief executive of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme and senior Department of Higher Education officials, the minister assessed infrastructure, student accommodation, funding systems and campus safety.
A group of North-West University (NWU) social work students recently participated in an international Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) programme aimed at strengthening ethical, intercultural and professional competence in social work practice.
Prof. Ankit Katrodia, an associate professor at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) WorkWell Research Unit in the School of Management Sciences, recently concluded an extensive international academic tour spanning Vietnam, India, Dubai (UAE), Nepal and other global academic hubs.
These academic visits, conducted over the past two months, reflects his continued commitment to advancing scholarly research, fostering international collaboration and contributing to global academic discourse.
An opinion piece by Dr Mabutho Shangase
The 4 to 2 majority decision by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) on 29 January to pause its interest rate easing cycle and leave the repo rate unchanged for now was widely expected.
Prof. Raymond Parsons, economist from the North-West University (NWU) Business School, says the MPC majority view provided a plausible case as to why it was considered necessary to further entrench inflationary expectations amid ongoing global uncertainty before making a further cut in borrowing costs for businesses and consumers.
While Europe is in the icy grip of winter, athletes are sharpening their form in Potchefstroom, drawn by the altitude, climate and a high-performance sport hub that has quietly become a base for Olympic gold medallists.
Members of the Netherlands’ Olympic gold-winning 4x400 m mixed relay team, including Femke Bol, Lieke Klaver and Isaya Klein Ikkink, are among the international athletes currently training at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) High-Performance Institute (HPI).
The North-West University (NWU) begins 2026 on a positive trajectory, recording a notable improvement in the Computer Science subject group of the Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings by Subject. This latest ranking underscores the continued commitment of the university to academic excellence and global relevance.
In the most recent THE Rankings by Subject, which was published on 21 January, the rankings place the Computer Science offerings of the NWU in the 601 to 800 group globally, while it featured in the 801 to 1 000 position last year.
The North-West University (NWU) has become the first South African university to adopt an official artificial intelligence (AI) policy. The NWU Council approved the policy at its most recent meeting, further cementing the university’s position as a leader in artificial intelligence in the higher education sector.
When communities across Africa face droughts, floods, and shifting climates, the solutions often begin in the minds of innovators, researchers, and leaders who are committed to a more sustainable future. In March 2026, these changemakers will gather at the Protea Hotel in Stellenbosch, Cape Town, for the International Conference on Green and Sustainable Development (ICGSD) 2026.
By Mzwandile Ndlovu
Two postgraduate students from the North-West University (NWU) were awarded top honours at the national Virtualise Your Thesis (VYT) Competition.
Christa Matlou from the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences and Makatu Mashanyu from the Faculty of Engineering represented the NWU at the competition held on 7 November 2025 at the University of Johannesburg.