The North-West University Business School's Prof Raymond Parsons interviews Minister Naledi Pandor and unpacks the Department of International Relations and Cooperation’s (DIRCO’s) vision and mission in Africa and to examine whether the relationship between DIRCO and business can be strengthened for this purpose.

To this end the role of diplomatic missions on the continent and their interaction with South African business has been interrogated in this video to see in what ways South Africa’s economic interests in Africa can be further promoted and expanded.

“The slightly better news on the unemployment front is a welcome trend, as it comes after a prolonged period of persistent deterioration in South African employment levels in recent times.”

In commenting on the latest unemployment figures for the first quarter of 2022, Prof Raymond Parsons, economist from the Business School of the North-West University (NWU), says to a large extent this development follows South Africa’s strong economic recovery in 2021 from the pandemic lockdowns, and should be viewed in the light of the inevitable time lags.

We wish to extend huge congratulations to the Minister of Land and Water Affairs of the Republic of Botswana, Dr Kefentse C Mzwinila, for graduating with a PhD degree from the NWU Business School on 25 May 2022.                                          

The decision by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to raise the repo rate by another 50 basis points was widely expected by markets and analysts.

Prof Raymond Parsons, economist from the Business School of the North-West University (NWU), says the MPC took the anticipated decision on a 4 to 1 vote.

Academia’s “best kept secret” is rising like a phoenix after the pandemic. The prestigious North-West University (NWU) Business School held a Brag & Brand function in Potchefstroom on Monday, 26 April that was attended by lecturers, staff and alumni.

Prof Linda du Plessis, acting vice-chancellor of the NWU, welcomed guests and said “a good school should have legitimacy”. She boasted that the NWU Business School had achieved accreditation for another five years from the Association of MBAs.

The word “digital” has a strong presence in virtually every sector these days, along with outcries for re-skilling and up-skilling of the workforce with digital literacy and skills for them to remain relevant for the future world of work. The Covid-19 pandemic has seemingly increased the pace and urgency of acquiring these skills. Internationally, digital literacy and skills are deemed essential by research and advisory firms like Gartner to enable lifelong learning and more effective workforce management, and ensure the competitiveness of employers and employees alike.