Vice-Chancellor

South Africa’s schools have not collapsed, and that is precisely why we should be worried

  • South Africa’s schools have not collapsed — but “not collapsed” must never become our standard for success. 
  • A child who cannot read for meaning by Grade 4 is not merely behind at school; that child faces a narrowed future. 
  • A country cannot build an innovation economy when hundreds of its schools do not even offer Mathematics.
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Lessons from Japan: Yesterday can’t fix tomorrow, but today can

By Prof. Bismark Tyobeka, principal and vice-chancellor of the North-West University (NWU) 

Mount Fuji’s famous peak is hidden behind a blanket of clouds today. It is a wondrous sight, and there is a serenity to it. It feels as though Japan, and specifically Tokyo, where I am, has been transported from the future to the present. The country is a technological marvel of automation and innovation, yet I also find myself carried into the past, to terrible moments more than 80 years ago. 

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Deputy Minister urges law students to build careers that strengthen justice

According to the Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Andries Nel, the legal profession is a public service and a calling rather than simply a career.

Addressing law students at a career expo held as part of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mandela Day programme, he emphasised the importance of purpose and integrity when pursuing a career in law.

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NWU Economic Update challenges students to become job creators, not just job seekers

Against the backdrop of South Africa's persistent youth unemployment crisis, the North-West University (NWU) hosted its Economic Update under the theme Umuntu Omusha – "Education for Jobs in Our Economy", challenging students to rethink their role in the economy by becoming adaptable graduates, innovative entrepreneurs and ethical leaders capable of shaping South Africa's future.

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IAEA delegation explores research collaboration at NWU

The North-West University (NWU) welcomed a high-level delegation from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Department of Electricity and Energy (DEE) to its Potchefstroom Campus on Wednesday, 1 July 2026, for a strategic engagement aimed at strengthening collaboration in nuclear science, research and human capital development.

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Xenophobic tendencies will kill our South African dream

Twice I was there when South Africa was the centre of the universe. The last decade of the 20th century heralded the arrival of a nation poised to lead through moral example, as we pledged never again to repeat our tainted history. Today, many citizens threaten violence against foreigners, and once again we face becoming one of the world's pariahs.

By Prof.
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Prof. Tyobeka calls for bold entrepreneurial future as NWU Indaba sets new direction

The future of the North-West University (NWU) was reimagined in powerful terms at the Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Indaba held at Pont de Val in Parys, where the principal and vice-chancellor, Prof. Bismark Tyobeka delivered a compelling call for the institution to position itself as a driver of innovation, job creation and economic transformation.

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