The North-West University’s (NWU’s) School of Agricultural Sciences has been recognised for its skills development at the South Africa Leadership Awards 2026.

The award, presented on 13 April in Johannesburg, places the school among institutions acknowledged for advancing capacity building and training across sectors.

Director of the School of Agricultural Sciences, Prof. Simon Letsoalo, said the award reflects the collective effort of staff and students in advancing agricultural education and skills development.

The North-West University (NWU) has marked a significant academic achievement after two of its leading scholars, Prof. Adeyemi Oladapo Aremu and Prof. Rasheed Adeleke, were awarded prestigious research chairs under the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI).

The announcement was made at a high-profile national launch hosted by the National Research Foundation (NRF), placing the two academics among a select group of researchers tasked with advancing innovation and addressing the most pressing development challenges in South Africa.

Taking along the spirit of Ubuntu, a North-West University (NWU) academic is stepping onto the international stage to connect South African public health research with global networks through her appointment to a key leadership role at a major international conference.

Dr Mpho Chipu from the School of Nursing has been appointed by the International Institute of Knowledge Management (TIIKM) as country coordinator for the 12th International Public Health Conference set to take place in Bali, Indonesia, from 5 to 7 August 2026.

• “As a country, we can only succeed if we adhere to the principles of transparency and accountability. Accounting professionals are the counterbalance to corruption.” – Prof. Bismark Tyobeka, Principal and Vice-Chancellor.
• “It is our duty to ensure that we deliver enough accounting professionals of the highest quality, with the ethical and leadership frameworks to stem the tide of corruption.” – Prof. Tyobeka.

The South African Canoe Polo Championships took centre stage, from 27 February to 1 March, in Century City, Cape Town bringing together top paddlers from across the country for a weekend of fast-paced, high-intensity action.

Middle-distance runner Luan Munnik, competing in his first World Indoor Championships in Poland, finished seventh in the men’s 3000 m final heat on Saturday 21 March, achieving a personal best time of 7:37.94. The NWU star rose to the occasion and showed no fear on the global stage.

For Luan, who had faced injury challenges and had not been able to run for over three years, securing seventh place while achieving a personal best represents progress and dedication.

North-West University (NWU) fundraiser Sbusiso Gwala has been elected as the new chairperson of MACE (Marketing, Advancement and Communication in Education), marking a major milestone in the higher education sector of South Africa.

Renowned for his fundraising expertise and strategic vision, this excellent fundraiser is set to lead the organisation in elevating professional standards and fostering collaboration among universities and TVET colleges nationwide.

The latest Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings by Subject places the agricultural and medicine offerings of the North-West University (NWU) among those of the leading universities in the world.

Both the subject groups for agriculture and medicine retained their positions from last year’s ranking edition. According to QS, agriculture remains in the 301 to 350 category and medicine in the 701 to 850 ranking category. QS published this latest ranking on 25 March.

The North-West University’s Ikateleng programme is expanding into Rustenburg’s platinum belt, helping to build a pipeline of future engineers and mining professionals from local schools.