Humanities

Prof Ian Rothmann at the forefront of global academic wake-up call on job insecurity

In an era in which the identity and sustainability of higher education and the identity of staff are under threat, a renowned industrial psychologist from the North-West University (NWU), Prof Sebastiaan (Ian) Rothmann, together with co-authors Dr Lara Roll and Prof Hans de Witte, has not only raised their voices – they have amplified a global call to action. Through a landmark international publication, the NWU is helping to reshape the future of academia, one research breakthrough at a time.

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Prof André Duvenhage - South Africa’s transport infrastructure is failing its people

In October, South Africans celebrate Transport Month, or should we rather say that South Africans acknowledge it? Our indispensable, but ailing transport infrastructure should be the veins through which our economy flows and grows, but these veins have been clocked by corruption, maladministration and neglect. Is our transport infrastructure in danger of causing cardiac arrest to our country?

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Tim Modise calls for broadcast media to reclaim its role in defining South Africa’s cultural identity

By Phenyo Mokgothu and Gofaone Motsamai

 

Veteran broadcaster Tim Modise returned to Mahikeng, where his media career began, to deliver a public lecture on the evolving role of broadcast media in shaping South Africa’s cultural identity.

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Colloquium reimagines the future of humanities knowledge and pedagogy

By Gofaone Motsamai

The decolonisation of higher education curricula will not happen overnight. In the words of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Prof Mpho Chaka, it is a “continuous multifaceted journey that involves questioning colonialism’s deep-rooted impacts on the way knowledge is produced and shared”.

Prof Chaka, deputy dean for teaching and learning in the Faculty of Humanities, was speaking at the faculty’s 2025 Teaching and Learning Colloquium, held at the Royal Marang Hotel in Rustenburg from 9 to 11 September.

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Music in Provence: musicians shine in second house concert in memory of Elmain Smit

Soft notes floated through the afternoon air like a gentle breeze across lavender fields. The scent of sunflowers and the glow of golden light transformed Prof Paul Smit’s home into a small corner of Provence, carrying guests on a journey of music, memory and quiet celebration.

On Saturday, 13 September, Prof Smit, associate professor in the School for Industrial Psychology and Human Resource Management at the North-West University (NWU), hosted the second house concert in memory of his late wife, Elmain.

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Women Leading for Sustainability: Workshop empowers the next Generation

On 19 August 2025, the university hosted a transformative sustainability workshop aimed at strengthening pathways for female students into impactful careers. With support from the British Council South Africa, the event created an inspiring platform for students to engage with practitioners, explore career options, and build the skills required to drive meaningful change.

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Faculty of Humanities celebrates community engagement at showcase

“Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” Desmond Tutu.

Community engagement is about people meeting people and sharing knowledge. It is done to touch lives, strengthen human connections, and remind us that learning has its deepest meaning when it serves others. Helping others is not just an act; it is a gift of compassion and a quiet way to leave the world better than we found it.

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