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.

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.

"The NWU Career Services continues to take centre stage in driving efforts concerning employability, and to be a convenor of engagements related to employability for NWU graduates," said Thoriso Maseng, senior manager for Career Services and Alumni Relations, during a breakfast engagement session hosted by the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Career Services.

The event provided an opportunity for academic staff to engage with the Career Services team and explore ways to better equip students for the job market.

The Technology Transfer and Innovation Support (TTIS) office has begun 2025 with a renewed commitment to helping researchers turn their ideas into real-world solutions. TTIS has played a key role in two major events: the Research and Innovation (R&I) Induction Session and the Research and Innovation Colloquium.

In an era where global collaboration is becoming increasingly essential, the North-West University (NWU) is taking commendable steps to broaden its international footprint. First-year social work students are already reaping the benefits of participating in a transformative Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) project, which focuses on addressing sexually transgressive behaviour.

United States President Donald Trump’s pause in his country’s foreign aid is being felt on the campuses of the North-West University (NWU).

The Health Care Centre and HIV/Aids Office on the NWU’s Mahikeng Campus have received notification from Shout-it-Now, the non-governmental organisation providing youth-centred sexual reproductive health services and support, of the suspension of all their services, posing a challenge for students and employees alike.

The NWU is implementing a new residence management system that will significantly improve efficiency within the university’s residences. The StarRez system is specifically designed for student housing and has numerous applications for residence management, placements, student interactions and reporting, among others.

The corporate publications of the North-West University (NWU) have excelled in this year’s South African Publication Forum and Marketing, Advancement and Communication in Education (MACE) competitions.

It is a proud achievement for the university in its pursuit of excellence.

Twelve awards from the South African Publication Forum

In addition to receiving two certificates of excellence, two wins, a runner-up position and two special mentions, the corporate publications also produced five finalists in four categories.

The SADiLaR-Wikipedia-PanSALB (SWiP) project is an important collaborative project that has seen key partners coming together to drive the digital ascent of isiNdebele, one of the low-resource languages in the country.

In a series of ceremonies held across all three North-West University (NWU) campuses, the People and Culture Department recently celebrated colleagues who completed the 12-month End-User Computing learnership. Marking an important milestone in professional growth, these events showcased NWU's commitment to digital empowerment and continuous learning.