Today marks the opening of proposal presentations for the inaugural cohort of the PhD Hub for Africa, an ambitious pilot initiative of the North-West University (NWU) Business School to reimagine doctoral education for the continent.

Over two days, Friday, 28 November and Monday, 1 December 2025, 24 doctoral candidates will present their research proposals as the culmination of a four-month Bridging Phase. Those who meet the academic requirements will proceed to full enrolment in the PhD in Business Administration programme in 2026.

The South African Socio-Economic and Industrial Research Conference (SSIRC), held from 6 to 7 November 2025 at the Radisson Blu in Umhlanga, Durban, marked a significant milestone celebrating a decade of impactful dialogue, innovative research, and academic collaboration in the fields of social sciences and international research.

This landmark event brought together scholars, practitioners, and global experts dedicated to addressing pressing socio-economic challenges and shaping the future of these critical research disciplines.

By Mzwandile Ndlovu

Teens living with chronic diseases need not be defined by their illnesses but by their potential and determination to succeed.

Dr Kezell Klinck, senior lecturer in the School of Management Sciences at the North-West University (NWU), delivered this message during the recent Chronic Life as a Teen event at the Lonely Park Multipurpose Centre in Mahikeng.

South Africa’s transport sector stands at a critical crossroads: unless urgent investment and private-sector participation are channelled into public transport infrastructure, the country’s economy will continue to stagnate.

North-West University (NWU) transport economist Dr Olebogeng Baikgaki says GDP growth for 2025 is expected to be limited to between 0,9% and 1,3%, and the outlook is poor if decaying infrastructure and inefficiencies are not addressed.

South Africa’s sluggish transport system could find new momentum through digitalisation and sustainable investment, says transport economist Dr Olebogeng Baikgaki of the North-West University (NWU).

He argues that integrating digital technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT) and electric vehicles into transport planning could revolutionise mobility and reduce carbon emissions.

October is Transport Month in South Africa, but there is not much to celebrate as the country’s economy is paying the price for decades of underinvestment and neglect in its transport system.

Failing roads, crumbling railways and inefficient ports are costing the country billions of rands and undermining its global competitiveness, according to transport analyst Dr Olebogeng Baikgaki of the North-West University (NWU).

By Gofaone Motsamai and Phenyo Mokgothu

When aircraft take off from South Africa’s major airports, they do more than connect people with destinations, they also leave behind a growing environmental footprint. The complex relationship between aviation, tourism and climate change is the focus of a recent book chapter by Kgomotso Mereotlhe, a lecturer at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus in the School of Tourism Management.

With youth unemployment continuing to challenge South Africa’s future, the North-West University (NWU) is showing that entrepreneurship is key to turning the tide. Through its bhive Enterprise Development Centre (EDC), the NWU hosted Student Entrepreneurship Week (SEW) 2025 from 29 September to 3 October across all three campuses.

Under the theme “Dream it. Build it. Live it.”, the week reminded students that they have the power to be job creators, not just job seekers.

A recent visit by North-West University (NWU) Professors Ephrem Redda and Prof Marko van Deventer to the Nicolaus Copernicus University (NCU) in Toruń, Poland represented a significant step in strengthening international academic collaboration.

Hosted by the NCU’s Faculty of Economic Sciences and Management, the visit underlined the importance of cross-institutional partnerships in higher education and demonstrated the potential for meaningful scholarly exchange and cooperation.