He is known for setting the highest standards for himself, and now Prof Bismark Tyobeka, principal and vice-chancellor of the North-West University (NWU), has been entrusted with doing the same for the country. As the newly appointed member and chairperson of the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), he will steer an institution that plays a critical role in setting and upholding South Africa’s national standards.
The future of the North-West University’s (NWU) Desmond Tutu School of Medicine was further consolidated on Tuesday, 24 June 2025, with the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MoA) between the NWU and the North West Department of Health (NWDoH) on the university’s Potchefstroom Campus.
“It is a privilege to be able to celebrate another milestone in the establishment of our medical school,” said Prof Awie Kotzé, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences.
The North-West University (NWU) delegation’s visit to the Universidad Tecnológica del Perú (UTP) on 17 June began with a warm and culturally rich welcome that set the tone for an inspiring day of academic exchange and collaboration.
On 10 June 2025, Prof Bismark Tyobeka, principal and vice-chancellor of the North-West University (NWU), arrived in Curitiba, Brazil, alongside a delegation of senior academic staff to formalise a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the NWU and the Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR).
The agreement aims to strengthen collaboration in research, staff development, and the exploration of new academic fields, while also advancing initiatives related to student and staff exchange programmes.
Comrades Marathon superstar Tete Dijana went supernova on Sunday 8 June when he won his third Comrades Marathon, following back-to-back victories in 2022 and 2023.
Dijana is an employee of Mi7, which is an external security service provider to the North-West University (NWU), and his reassuring presence on the Mahikeng Campus has made him a beloved member of the NWU family.
It was a stellar performance from Dijana who completed the 98.98 km distance from Pietermaritzburg to Durban in a time of five hours, 25 minutes and 28 seconds.
The principal and vice-chancellor of the North-West University (NWU), Prof Bismark Tyobeka, will lead a high-level academic delegation on a strategic international mission to Brazil and Peru from 8 to 20 June 2025. The visit forms part of the ongoing efforts by the NWU to deepen international academic collaboration and broaden its global engagement.
The countdown has begun. On Tuesday afternoon at precisely 12:46, Prof Bismark Tyobeka, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the North-West University (NWU), turned the first sod at the Potchefstroom Campus construction site of the NWU Desmond Tutu School of Medicine.
This ceremonial gesture marked the official commencement of construction of South Africa’s 11th medical school, with the first cohort of students expected to enrol in 2028.
By Gofaone Motsamai
An air of possibility and curiosity pervaded the campuses of the North-West University (NWU) in May as prospective students, parents and guardians attended a series of Open Day events.
The Mahikeng Campus hosted the first event on 10 May, followed by Potchefstroom on 17 May and Vanderbijlpark on 24 May. Each event offered a glimpse into the academic programmes, student support services and inclusive culture the NWU prides itself on.
The North-West University (NWU) and the North West provincial government (NWP) are joining forces to address problems in the province. They signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on 29 April that will enable cooperation on a host of pressing challenges.
The North-West University (NWU) is proud to announce that its soon-to-be-established medical school will be honorifically named the NWU Desmond Tutu School of Medicine.
This decision was taken in consultation with – and received the approval of – the Archbishop Desmond Tutu IP Trust.