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 implementation of the recently approved strategy of the North-West University (NWU) is starting to show positive results. The strategy – Taking the NWU forward: 2024 and beyond – prioritises, among other things, internationalisation, partnerships and impact. Consequently, the NWU now ranks in the top 4,1% of universities worldwide. This is according to the 2025 edition of the outcome-based Global 2000 list by the Center for World University Rankings (CWUR). The CWUR published the latest ranking on 2 June.
Medical scientist Puseletso Manyaka-Lesofe recently stepped up to change the narrative regarding the representation of females in science. Puseletso joined as a panellist at the launch of the groundbreaking InnovateHER project, which was hosted at the University of Johannesburg on Saturday, 10 May, reaffirming her commitment to empowering young women.
The School of Agricultural Sciences at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus is preparing a new generation of agricultural professionals through a combination of academic training, practical experience and sector-focused initiatives.
Comprising four core disciplines, namely agricultural economics and extension, animal health, animal sciences, and crop sciences, the school offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes aimed at meeting industry needs.
South Africa has too many public universities, and most of them should be closed. Furthermore, only 10% of the population should pursue a university education, “while there is a big shortage at other skill levels”. These are some of the comments recently made by economist Dawie Roodt, who also labelled South Africa’s primary education sector as one of the worst in the world, arguing that the quality of state-owned universities has declined and that universities should be more selective when admitting students.
By Gofaone Motsamai and Phenyo Mokgothu
Spearheading curriculum change, empowering educators to use decolonial syllabi and engaging students as critical thinkers and change agents is the mission of the new Centre for Teaching Excellence and Curricular Engagement (CTECE) at the North-West University.
The new centre, marking the university’s commitment to redefining education in the Faculty of Humanities, was launched at Mmabatho Palms Hotel and streamed online on 8 May 2025.
Culture and crisis communication took centre stage at the North-West University (NWU) when the institution was honoured to host internationally acclaimed scholar Prof Krishnamurthy Sriramesh from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
With a global academic footprint and numerous accolades to his name – including the prestigious Pathfinder Award and PRIDE Awards – Prof Sriramesh delivered a powerful public lecture titled “The link between culture and crisis communication: Global case studies”.
Dr Moleboheng Mokhele-Ramulumo, senior lecturer in the Faculty of Education and member of the Research Unit for Self-Directed Learning, has been invited as a panellist for the upcoming InnovateHER project launch, under the African Female Voices platform, which will be held at the University of Johannesburg on 10 May 2025.
Prof Dumi Moyo, executive dean of the Faculty of Humanities, and Prof Herculene Kotzé, deputy dean, represented the North-West University (NWU) the Times Higher Education Africa Universities Summit 2025 in Kigali, Rwanda, from 18 to 21 March.
Prof Amare Abebe, research director at the Centre for Space Research at the North-West University (NWU), has been elected as the new president of the African Astronomical Society (AfAS).
AfAS was established to create a globally competitive and collaborative astronomy community in Africa.
Prof Abebe’s focus will be on expanding membership, fostering research collaboration and enhancing astronomy education and outreach across Africa.