On 16 May Andrew Banda made history when he became the first graduate to receive a PhD in social sciences with a focus on ageing and development in Africa from the North-West University (NWU).

This research PhD is the product of the Optentia research unit and is a first in Africa. It is designed to cultivate a deeper understanding of ageing within the unique context of Sub-Saharan Africa. The purpose of this degree is to generate evidence, foster knowledge and catalyse transformative change in policies and programmes tailored to the needs of older individuals and communities.

At a recent North-West University (NWU) Council meeting, the Faculty of Humanities secured approval to establish a Digital Humanities (DH) Centre in 2025.

Prof Mirna Nel, the deputy dean for research and innovation in the faculty, who leads the development team, expressed excitement about this approval. Notably, the only other DH Centre in Africa is at the University of Lagos in Nigeria, making this initiative significant for advancing the field on the continent.

As the world marks World Art Day 2024 on 15 April, Othusitse Maunatlala, an academic in the School of Communication at the North-West University (NWU), shares insights on the significance of art.

World Art Day is an international celebration of the fine arts which was declared by the International Association of Art to promote awareness of creative activity worldwide.

Othusitse emphasises the universal nature of art and says it is important to recognise the relationship between art and technology.

A nationwide initiative, the Teaching Advancement at Universities (TAU) programme, aims to improve the standard of teaching and elevate teaching and learning in public higher education.

The programme is a component of the national framework for advancing academics as university teachers that is run by the Department of Higher Education and Training, and is coordinated through the Higher Education Teaching and Learning Association of Southern Africa.

The Faculty of Health Sciences at the North-West University (NWU) is proud to announce that one of our students, Jayson Clancy, will be receiving the Health Science Student Award at the ASAIPA National Medical Awards in 2024. The award ceremony will take place in Johannesburg on 29 June 2024 and marks the first time an NWU student has received this honour.

The North-West University’s Indigenous Language Media in Africa (ILMA) research niche area hosted a hybrid public lecture featuring Prof Molefi Kete Asante, a prominent figure in African American scholarship, on 19 March 2024.

The title of the lecture was “Afrocentricity, communication, and culture: Building a common history".

Prof Asante, a distinguished professor in the Department of Africology at Temple University in Philadelphia and president of the Molefi Kete Asante Institute for Afrocentric Studies, stands as a beacon in shaping discourse on Afrocentric education.

Researchers across the faculties at the North-West University (NWU) are doing exciting work in their fields of expertise.

Prof Courtney Cook is an associate professor and researcher in the Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences.

Despite being nutrient-rich and drought-resistant, indigenous foods are often overlooked in food security strategies. North-West University (NWU) student Modjadji Mandy Rasehlomi seeks to change that.

Modjadji, a master’s student in Indigenous Knowledge Systems, has been delving into the untapped potential of indigenous foods to address the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of No Poverty (SDG 1) and Zero Hunger (SDG 2).

While Africa is a continent with a rapidly growing population of young people, it is crucial for the region to pay attention to the global agenda on ageing.

The United Nations declared the years 2021 to 2030 as the "Decade of Healthy Ageing". This global collaboration, aligned with the last 10 years of the Sustainable Development Goals, seeks to improve the lives of older people, their families and the communities in which they live.

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Indigenous Language Media in Africa (ILMA) research niche area is proud to be hosting a public lecture featuring Prof Molefi Kete Asante, a towering figure in African-American scholarship, on 19 March 2024.

The theme of the lecture is “Afrocentricity, communication and culture: Building a common history”.