The sound of machinery and the dust in the air will soon go away as the North-West University (NWU) Vanderbijlpark Campus prepares to unveil its newly constructed astro hockey field. This state-of-the-art turf signals a new era for NWU Hockey and is set to transform the institution’s sporting landscape.

Developed as part of the university’s’ ongoing commitment to the holistic development of its students, the new pitch is expected to raise the standard of competitive hockey on campus while strengthening the NWUs’ edge in university sports.

The North-West University (NWU) recently took centre stage as co-host of the 5th World Association for Sport Management (WASM) Conference, held from 3-6 March 2026 at the Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town.

Hosted in partnership with the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), this landmark event marked the first WASM Conference ever held on African soil.

The North-West University’s Ikateleng programme is expanding into Rustenburg’s platinum belt, helping to build a pipeline of future engineers and mining professionals from local schools.

Police dogs are among the most effective yet underutilised crime-fighting tools available to South African law enforcement.

The Vaal River – one of the most important water sources in South Africa – is currently “surviving but not thriving”, according to North-West University (NWU) researcher Prof. Wynand Malherbe, who is studying the ecological health of the river in the Vredefort Dome area.

Although the river continues to sustain aquatic life, increasing levels of pollution are placing severe pressure on the ecosystem.

The phrase “surviving but not thriving”, originally coined by a journalist from the Parys Gazette, captures the delicate state of the river, Prof. Malherbe explains.

The North-West University (NWU) buzzed with energy and purpose recently as the Gender-Responsive Opportunities for Women in Academia (GROW) Gender Summit 2026 brought together a powerhouse of professors, scholars and change-makers from across the globe at the Tsebonokeng Hall on the Vanderbijlpark Campus.

There was a gentle sense of celebration in the air as guests gathered at Kleinbosch Wedding Venue for the launch of Happiness, Unhappiness, and Chance by Anné Hendrik Verhoef.

Friends, colleagues and members of the university community came together not only to celebrate a new book, but also to reflect on one of the most enduring questions in life: what does it really mean to be happy?

Every step counted on Saturday 7 March as students, staff and the community at NWU Vanderbijlpark Campus laced up their running shoes to participate in the meaningful ‘Running for Impact’ initiative, which supports NWU’s Meal-A-Day programme.

Organised by the Development and Fundraising Department in partnership with the Genese Running Club, the event saw participants donate non-perishable food items and toiletries. These donations will be distributed to students who rely on the programme’s support, which aims to ensure that no student goes to bed hungry.

The principal and vice-chancellor of the North-West University (NWU), Prof. Mzubanzi Bismark Tyobeka, recently participated in the Nuclear Forum at the Africa Energy Indaba, one of the premier platforms on the continent for dialogue on energy security, policy and innovation.

The Africa Energy Indaba brings together policymakers, energy experts, academics and industry leaders from across Africa and beyond to deliberate on sustainable energy solutions that can drive economic development while addressing the growing energy demands of the continent.

The good news is that, compared with gross domestic product (GDP) growth rates of 0,8% and 0,5% in 2023 and 2024, respectively, growth improved to 1,1% in 2025.

Prof. Raymond Parsons, economist from the North-West University (NWU) Business School, says the latest figures for 2025 that were released by StatsSA confirm that South Africa has been experiencing a slow and uneven economic recovery over the past year.

He says household spending continues to do much of the heavy lifting in sustaining economic activity.