The North-West University (NWU) is celebrating a remarkable achievement, with Dr Lucé Pretorius, senior lecturer in Social Work at the Vanderbijlpark Campus, having received the prestigious Early Career Academic Award for 2025.

The accolade was presented at the annual Association of South African Social Work Education Institutions (ASASWEI) Conference, held from 10 to 12 September at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein.

In a world where numbers and words often dominate research, a North-West University (NWU) scholar is urging academics to “picture it”. During her inaugural lecture Prof Vicki Koen from the Faculty of Health Sciences argued that images, drawings and photographs can unlock new ways of understanding family well-being that traditional methods cannot.

South Africans are still basking in the glow of the Springboks’ emphatic 43–10 dismantling of the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship. It was a win that restored pride, silenced doubters, and reaffirmed South Africa’s place at the summit of world rugby.

Now the Springboks will host Argentina in Durban as Rassie Erasmus’ men look to defend their Rugby Championship crown in the coming two weeks.

The Faculty of Health Sciences at the North-West University (NWU) is celebrating a major achievement after its Understanding the World of Health teaching team was named one of the winners of the 2025 National University Teaching Award (NUTA).

They received the NUTA award in category 3: A Collaboration of Academics who have shown innovation in teaching and learning.

Globally, World Patient Safety Day (WPSD) is celebrated on 17 September to raise awareness on healthcare safety and quality. This initiative by the World Health Organisation (WHO) inspires healthcare professionals to show their commitment to patient safety.

The theme for 2025 is “Safe care for every newborn and every child”, emphasising that each child has the right to safe and quality care from birth.

The North-West University (NWU) joined forces with the Potchefstroom Hospital to host a Patient Safety Seminar at the hospital’s Residence Hall, focusing on strengthening healthcare delivery and improving patient safety.

This seminar showcased innovative research from recent patient safety projects at the Potchefstroom Hospital, addressing how medical facilities handle incident reporting, encourage organisational culture, respond to medical errors and develop strategies for delivering safer and quality care.

Dr Rorisang Machailo, senior lecturer and deputy director at the School of Nursing at the North-West University (NWU), has been recognised as a top 3 finalist in the Women in Academic Administration category of the 2025 Higher Education Women Leaders (HEWL) Awards.

This honour highlights her outstanding leadership and dedication to advancing mental health education and equity in South Africa’s higher-education sector.

Patients at Witrand Hospital recently received clothing and bathroom supplies from a group of fourth-year nursing students from the North-West University (NWU).

The students, who are completing their clinical hours in mental health care, said the initiative was part of their responsibility to provide care that goes beyond treatment.

Ideal Healthcare is not only about treating patients but also about being fully present for and with them. This notion was at the heart of an inaugural lecture delivered at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Potchefstroom Campus on 8 August 2025.

Prof Tinda Rabie from the Faculty of Health Sciences presented her lecture titled “Can the light of presence in caring still shine in the health profession through wise and guiding healthcare providers? Absolutely!”

A North-West University (NWU) expert in consumer sciences recently served as guest editor for the first special issue of the South African Journal of Science focusing on sustainable food systems in southern Africa.