Announcements

Update: Hacked NWU Facebook pages

26 September 2023

On Saturday, 23 September, all the North-West University’s Facebook pages were hacked. We sent an SMS alert/notification to all staff and students immediately upon realisation of the problem.

We have been working with the relevant Meta offices and our digital media partners to resolve the problem since Saturday afternoon. We had hoped that the problem would have been resolved sooner, but Meta’s processes are proving to be cumbersome and lack agility in resolving problems of this nature. The information at our disposal suggests that it may take up to two weeks to resolve the problem. Please do not use any of the NWU’s official Facebook pages or engage with the hackers via direct messaging service/messenger.

We encourage you to report the pages for theft or violation of intellectual property. Please note that the Meta- FB pages and systems are not hosted or run on the NWU network systems; thus, the university’s systems and data are not affected at all.

We appreciate your messages of support and understanding since this unfortunate incident.    

Please continue to follow us on the following platforms:

You are welcome to contact our Digital Media manager, Sinki Mlambo at sinki.mlambo@nwu.ac.za for any concerns or questions regarding this matter.

Thank you

NWU Corporate Relations and Marketing

 

NWU social media accounts have been hacked

23 September 2023

NWU social media accounts have been hacked. Be safe - refrain from engaging on our platforms. We hope to resolve the situation ASAP.

Upcoming assessment period

15 September 2023

All assessments planned for the next two weeks will continue as scheduled. With the increased loadshedding and the cut of water supply in Vanderbijlpark, we are confident that all measures are in place to handle these.
Contingency plans have considered all probabilities to ensure that assessments and other planned activities on the campuses can continue uninterruptedly.
We want to wish our staff and students all the best for the next two weeks. Should any changes need to be made, it will be communicated in advance.

Kind regards
Prof Marlene Verhoef
Registrar and chairperson of the Emergency Power Management Response Team

Vanderbijlpark Campus: teaching and learning arrangements in the period of water shortage

13 September 2023

In the communique of 12 September 2023 to the Vanderbijlpark Campus community, management indicated that it will constantly monitor the situation and challenges brought about by the planned interruption of the water supply to the campus and the bigger Vanderbijlpark area.

The Response Team again met this morning and after taking into account all the possible risks associated with the situation, a decision was made that the teaching programme for Vanderbijlpark Campus scheduled for 14 and 15 September will primarily move online. The resolution had been endorsed by the vice-chancellor.

Lecturers have been asked to publish the teaching material and recordings online for students to download and continue with the academic programme. Essential contact classes as defined by faculties can continue but these will be communicated to students on their eFundi sites by the faculties. Further changes to the teaching and learning programme as it affects the campus will be communicated in advance.

Staff are requested to as far as possible work from home. All students not residing in on-campus university residences will still have access to the campus to ensure that they can connect for classes. The library, all labs and other venues which were available during the recent assessment period, will again be available from where students can have access.

This arrangement was necessitated to ensure that the emergency water supply on the campus would be able to accommodate the need.

Your assistance in managing the upcoming challenge is appreciated. Please use water sparingly and assist us in averting a crisis.

Further updates will be provided.

Kind regards
Prof Marlene Verhoef
Registrar and chairperson of the Emergency Power Management Response Team

Upcoming interruption of water supply: Vanderbijlpark Campus and surrounding areas

12 September 2023

The NWU this morning took note of official communication from the Emfuleni Local Municipality regarding the maintenance they have to do on a water pipe at the Vanderbijlpark Reservoir. According to their communique, they will shut down the water supply on Thursday, 14 September 2023 until Monday, 18 September 2023.
Even though the reservoir responsible for the water supply to our campus and surrounding areas can maybe last for two to three days, the university has put emergency contingency plans in place to ensure that our academic programme can continue uninterruptedly. We however need the support of every staff member and student to ensure this. We need to use water as sparingly as possible.

Precautionary measures: Drinking water is crucial

  • It is crucial for every student in campus and off-campus residences to gather at least 10 litres of drinking water in clean containers.
  • Staff are also urged to ensure that they have adequate drinking water available in their offices.
  • These measures should already be in place as of tomorrow, 13 September.

Measures put in place by the NWU

  • We will also place temporary water containers (bladders) filled with water on the campus as well as at Faranani residence to ensure access to water. This water is however not fit for human consumption and can only be used for washing and ablution purposes. Owners of leased residences have assured the university that they are fully self-sufficient to provide emergency water.
  • The capacity to replenish the irrigation tank with borehole water, will be increased and multiple taps will be installed next to the irrigation tank. This water will be available for flushing of toilets and will have to be collected by users. 20L buckets will be made available for this purpose. This water is also not fit for human consumption.
  • The NWU will liaise with privately owned residences and urge them to put the necessary measures in place to accommodate students during this period.
  • Hand sanitiser will be available in all on-campus residences and offices.

The way forward
Management is doing everything possible to ensure that business can continue as normal as possible. For the time being, all face-to-face classes will continue as normal. Should this situation bring about any challenges in terms of the academic environment, we will communicate it immediately.
Your assistance in managing the upcoming challenge is appreciated. Please use water sparingly and assist us in averting a crisis.

Kind regards
Prof Marlene Verhoef
Registrar and chairperson of the Emergency Power Management Response Team

The academic programme continues as scheduled across the NWU campuses despite attempted disruptions

6 September 2023

During the early morning of 6 September 2023, it came to the attention of the university management that some students at the Mahikeng Campus are allegedly dissatisfied about the recent SCC and SRC: Distance Student voting process and NSFAS payments. The dissatisfied students must follow the appropriate university channels to voice and register their dissatisfaction and allow management to address the concerns. The safety of staff and students remains a priority for the university management; thus, all the relevant measures have been put in place to ensure safety and business continuity.

All classes shall continue as normally scheduled at all our campuses.  The NWU Protection Services will continue to monitor the situation.

Please direct enquiries to the respective Directors for Student Life.

University Management

Progress and way forward regarding NSFAS issues and the academic programme

3 August 2023

Once again, thank you for your understanding and cooperation during the past few days. It has been necessary to live our ethic of care by not only attending to the concerns of students affected by matters pertaining to NFSAS payments, but also to mitigate identified risks to the academic project and safety of students and staff. We are happy to report that significant progress has been made towards addressing major outstanding issues with NSFAS and Norraco.

This has resulted in most of our students who have onboarded the Norraco system receiving their much-needed allowances. We urge students who are still experiencing problems regarding their allowances to go to the Norraco agents stationed at our campuses urgently. We remain committed to continue to engage with NSFAS and Norraco regarding outstanding issues and addressing any potential problems and challenges.

The successful completion of the academic programme is paramount to the university and our stakeholders. Therefore, all contact/face-to-face classes and activities shall resume on Monday, 7 August 2023.  We urge students who may have missed assignments or tests due to the temporary measure of online teaching-learning mode to contact the relevant lecturers as a matter of priority.

We take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank the NWU stakeholders who have contributed and pledged towards the Food Assistance Programme. As mentioned in our previous communique, some stakeholders registered their displeasure, frustration, and inconvenience that the temporary measure caused. We really appreciate the solution-oriented way in which you raised the issues. Although this situation was beyond our control, we are optimistic that it will not happen again.    

Please continue to work hard and smarter during the second semester. We wish you all the best with your classes and studies.  

We look forward to meeting you (staff and students) at our campuses on Monday, 7 August 2023.  

Thank you.

NWU Senior Management

Update regarding activities on our campuses

2 August 2023

The NWU Management thanks all staff and students for their cooperation since the announcement that all classes were moved to the online modality from 1 August 2023. Although progress has been made regarding finding solutions to the problems experienced with the NSFAS payments, a lot still needs to be achieved to ensure that the needs of the affected students are met. It must be emphasised that there is absolutely nothing that the NWU can do to resolve the problem except to provide the necessary information and persuade NSFAS and Norraco to address the problems speedily. We remain committed to continue to assist in this regard.

Regrettably, we have experienced illegal protests and disruptions of activities by some of our students at Potchefstroom and Mahikeng campuses. These illegal protests were reportedly about the continuation of academic activities in some of our faculties. We must make it clear that the university’s academic programme continues, and when schools or faculties and students requested permission to continue with some activities that have regulatory and other implications, management had to allow those, and act responsibly to safeguard the interests of the university’s academic standards and reputation.  

For example, the second assessment opportunity for first-year mathematics students had to take place today, 2 August 2023. Failure to write these assessments will have direct impact on registration for second semester. Therefore, approval was granted for these sessions to continue in a face-to-face environment. The first paper was written today, and the second paper will be written tomorrow, 3 August 2023. Communication (e-mail and SMS) was sent to all affected students in time. This is happening across all three campuses. These students must be allowed to continue with their studies.

Students must understand that although they have rights to express their dissatisfaction, those rights come with responsibilities. The university’s rules are very clear on this. Illegal protests and infringement on the rights of others will not be tolerated and those involved will have to face the consequences in terms of the applicable rules and policies.

The graduation ceremonies that are scheduled for 3 and 4 August on the Potchefstroom Campus will also continue, and we are looking forward to welcoming the graduands and their families and friends on our campus. Graduation ceremonies are key milestones for both the university and the graduands, and we will ensure that they experience the ceremonies with the glory and honour they deserve.

We have a responsibility and accountability to all our stakeholders, and to act within the parameters of the laws of our country. Therefore, we will not, in anyway or form, support or encourage our students to take part in illegal gatherings or protest actions. We would be held responsible and accountable should there be damages to property or fatalities during such events.  

Our movement to online classes is only a temporary measure. We expect to return to our normal contact classes within the next few days. We have taken this precautionary measure to allow NSFAS and Norraco to resolve their issues and enable all our students to participate fully in the academic programme. We continue to meet with both NSFAS and Norraco daily to assist with the resolution of challenges encountered.  We are aware that some of our stakeholders are impatient and would like to resume with the normal programme urgently. However, we need to consider all factors including those students who are unable to participate in classrooms.

Therefore, we urge all our stakeholders to cooperate with us and to assist in any way possible to allow us to bring the situation back to normal and resume with our academic programme in a face-to-face manner. In the meantime, online classes will continue until further notice, and staff who have arranged with their managers to work remotely, must continue to do so.

We will update you of any developments tomorrow, 3 August 2023.
 
Thank you.

NWU Senior Management

 

Update regarding NSFAS direct payment issues.

Since the communique of yesterday, 31 July 2023, the NWU management has been working to get NSFAS and Norraco to resolve outstanding issues. These include the non-availability or very slow response time of the Norraco internet-based system, the non-issuing of NSFAS mastercards to students, as well as students approved for NSFAS funding, but not on the payment lists. The manager of the university’s bursary office physically went to the NSFAS offices in Cape Town to demand answers regarding outstanding issues and managed to resolve matters mostly regarding students’ data.

We managed to get hold of the Norraco-payment-file to allow us to reconcile that with the information NWU supplied to NSFAS and which NSFAS supplied to Norraco. We continue to follow-up with NSFAS regarding all identified discrepancies to ensure that they are corrected as a matter of urgency to allow due payments to be done.  As at today, 1 August 2023, close to 21 500 students have been allocated their allowances, but access problems persist reportedly due to Norraco system unreliability or downtime. We are concerned that more than 1 000 NSFAS approved students have not yet onboarded the system and would not be able to access their allocated and available allowances. We appeal to these students to urgently complete the onboarding process or contact the relevant offices for assistance.

Students have raised grave concerns regarding Norraco’s exorbitant banking charges. This matter was raised with NSFAS, and the university was informed that it is non-negotiable; thus, the implementation of the current charges will continue. Students are encouraged to visit our NSFAS communication page to learn all about the most effective way of handling their allowances to ensure the least costs.

Management will continue to liaise with NSFAS and Norraco to resolve the outstanding issues and to enable the full continuation of the academic programme and activities. Face-to-face classes will remain suspended until further notice, and staff who have arranged with their managers to work remotely must continue to do so.

In line with the university’s ethic of care, a Food Assistance Programme will be launched on each campus tomorrow, 2 August, to assist students who have not yet received their allowances or are onboarded but cannot access their allowances. Details regarding locations and times will be communicated soon.

We will update you of any developments tomorrow, 2 August 2023.
 
Thank you.

NWU Senior Management

 

The academic programme moves online until further notice due to NSFAS payment delays.

31 July 2023

The NWU management reiterates that it is disheartened and pained by the recent developments regarding the NSFAS and Norraco direct payment of allowances to deserving beneficiaries. We have repeatedly cautioned that this situation will happen, and regrettably our advice was ignored. We sympathise with our students especially the NSFAS beneficiaries who are affected by the payment delays.

Management wants to assure students that all effort from NWU’s side was committed towards those aspects where we could contribute to a smooth handover in the best interest of our students. We commit to continue to put more pressure on the relevant structures including NSFAS and Norraco to ensure a complete handover and implementation of direct payments or a serious consideration of other viable and sustainable alternatives.

We acknowledge the students’ frustrations and the impact that the delays, non-payment, and third-party system problems have on the NSFAS beneficiaries and the academic programme. We have already witnessed some of the unfortunate incidents that have happened across our campuses today, 31 July 2023. Regrettably, a decision about the taking over of direct payments from universities has been made by NSFAS and as previously communicated, the NWU has been disempowered by this process. As on 31 July, approximately 90% of the NWU NSFAS beneficiaries could technically access their funds provided the Norraco system is functional. These are beneficiaries who have been already onboarded.  

We remain committed to continue to persuade NSFAS towards ensuring that allowances are available to students as soon as possible. This is crucial for us to conclude the 2023 academic year successfully.

Therefore, all face-to-face classes are suspended with immediate effect until further notice. The lecturers have been asked to publish the teaching material and recordings online for students to download and continue with the academic programme.

We request staff to liaise with their managers and where possible work remotely until further notice. In the meantime, management is liaising with all role-players to find solutions. We hereby commit to update you daily regarding developments in this regard.

 

Thank you.

NWU Senior Management

 

Prof Bismark Tyobeka – Nelson Mandela Day message

It is in our hands

17 July 2023

There are seminal moments in history, moments that define an age and live on beyond a lifetime. One of these occurred on 11 February 1990 when thousands were in attendance and millions watched from home as Nelson Mandela walked from Victor Verster prison in Cape Town.

A new course for our country was set and the world saw how the human spirit cannot only prevail through the most challenging of circumstances but become a beacon for others to follow suit.

As we celebrate Mandela Day, this is one of the images that spring to mind, and one we will not soon forget, but it is the lessons of his legacy that will stand the test of time.

We again saw how cooperation trumps exclusion, and how a path walked together is more fulfilling than one walked alone. As a nation we reaffirmed that the more voices we listen to, the more perspective we will have and the better equipped we will be to build a society we all can be proud of.

At the North-West University, this is not only what we believe, but it is what we are striving towards every day in every decision we make and every route we take.

The theme of this year’s Mandela Day is It Is In Your Hands, and the future is truly in our hands, but also in our hands together.  It can only be in our hands if it is within our reach. As one of the top 10 universities in Africa according to the latest Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings we are ensuring that our students – through our exceptional teaching-and-learning as well as world-class research are given the best possible opportunities to succeed.

According to the latest Center for World University Rankings (CWUR), the NWU is rated as one of the top 4,4% of global universities, meaning our ever-expanding local and international footprint is bringing the world to our doorstep. We need only to step out and together embrace these opportunities and possibilities.   

Let us continue to set an example for others to follow so that our legacy will be remembered for the positive changes we made as well as for our commitment, dedication, and perseverance in our pursuit of a better, sustainable future. We will of course experience some difficulties towards achieving our goals. This is the reason we need to remain courageous and remember President Mandela’s words that: “Courage is not the absence of fear. It is inspiring others to move beyond it." And: “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.”   

It is in your hands, and it all starts here.

 

Prof. Bismark Tyobeka

Principal and vice-chancellor

Youth Month

16 June 2023

To my dear colleagues and our cherished students,

On Youth Day, we take a moment to reflect and honour the extraordinary courage demonstrated by over 20,000 pupils on 16 June 1976 in Soweto. They bravely marched against a grave injustice of the time. Their protests have had a lasting impact, paving the way for the democracy we enjoy today.

As times have changed, so too have the challenges faced by our youth. One such challenge is the alarming rate of unemployment, particularly among young people. According to a recent study by Stats SA, the youth unemployment rate for the first quarter of 2023 stands at a staggering 46.5%, far surpassing the national average of 32.9%. This is a distressing reality that demands urgent attention.

At the NWU, we strive to produce graduates who are well-prepared to seize opportunities in both the public and private sectors. We recognize that our skilled youth are invaluable assets, essential for the socio-economic development and growth of our country. We must harness their vibrancy, verve, and ingenuity. However, they face numerous challenges on their journey to realizing their dreams and fulfilling their potential.
The youth are the custodians of our future, and it is our responsibility to equip them with the tools they need to succeed. At the North-West University (NWU), we firmly believe that the broad set of skills needed by tomorrow's workforce necessitates a fresh approach to the structure of education delivery. Disciplinary boundaries will be much more porous, and new programmes need to be developed at the intersections of traditional fields, such as behavioural economics, computational biology, and the nexus of design, arts, and technology.

This is why we have embraced the T-shaped approach to Teaching & Learning. The T-shaped approach entails educating our graduates to become experts in their chosen fields, diving deep into the technical knowledge specific to their disciplines. Simultaneously, we encourage interaction and exposure to multidisciplinary offerings from related fields, enabling students to acquire generalist knowledge. This versatility is crucial, as it empowers graduates to apply their generalist skills as entrepreneurs or employers should the market become saturated with specialized expertise.

Surveys consistently demonstrate that students from the North-West University are highly sought after in the employment sector. Our reputation for academic excellence, diversity, and other distinctive graduate attributes distinguishes our students and give them a competitive edge.

This is just one of the ways we ensure that our students have the best possible opportunities to not only meet but surpass their own expectations, even in a potentially limited job market.
To our students, I also implore you to look beyond your immediate horizons. The NWU is an internationally recognized university, offering a passport to a world of possibilities limited only by your imagination. We are fully prepared to support you in your endeavours wherever they may take you.

On this historic and momentous day, I wish to leave you with two aspirations. First, the North-West University prides itself on an ethic of care, and it is my hope that you, our students, will carry this ethic with you as well-rounded graduates. Plant the seeds of empathy and kindness in the communities and companies you become a part of, leaving a lasting impact wherever you go.

Secondly, I echo the sentiments of our former President, Nelson Mandela, who urged us to "be the scriptwriters of our destiny and feature ourselves as stars that show the way towards a brighter future."

I want to conclude by saying, embrace boldness and bravery, always remembering to be kind and compassionate. Be involved, believe in yourself, prove the naysayers wrong, and reach your full potential. The future rests in your capable hands.


I thank you.
Ndiyabulela
Enkosi
Baie dankie
Kealeboga

Prof Mzubanzi Bismark Tyobeka
Principal and Vice-Chancellor

North-West University supports inclusivity and equality

9 June 2023

Pride Month is celebrated in many countries in recognition of the resistance that was mounted in the late 1960s (what are often referred to as the Stonewall Riots or Uprisings, which lasted several days) against summary, violent and arbitrary persecution of persons identifying as LGBTIQA+.

This resistance was spontaneous but gave rise to further organised acts of resistance and activism in the decades to follow, and these were not limited to the Global North. The outcomes of those efforts, which occurred all over the world, to recognise the equality of LGBTIQA+ persons have taken different forms in different contexts. The positive consequences of political activism have been seen in a great many countries (South Africa, India and Botswana included) in the decriminalisation of same-sex desire on the one hand, and also – equally important – the recognition of the right to association, equality and dignity. This has unfolded over decades of hard work, with lives that were destroyed and sacrificed in the process.

In South Africa, the struggle for that recognition was part of the broader struggle for liberation and freedom and was the result of the efforts of people like Simon Nkoli, Beverley Palesa Ditsie, Sally Gross and others. The struggle was not limited to political action only, but in the 21st century also extended to issues like state support on issues pertaining to sexual reproductive health (for example, the work undertaken by Zackie Achmat, Edwin Cameron and the TAC in relation to HIV treatment).

Notwithstanding important legal achievements, the violence in South Africa against women in general and LGBTIQA+ persons in particular (for example, Eudy Simelane, Kirvan Fortuin and our own Sam Mbatha, amongst others at the North-West University, (NWU) suggests that the struggle for social acceptance and equality is not yet won.

Like other South African higher-education institutions, the NWU has an important role to play in creating the conditions for inclusion and equality to be celebrated and experienced. On that note, the NWU recognises the importance of sexuality and orientation as key aspects of diversity and celebrates Pride Month. The vibrancy of our LGBTIQA+ student societies and student and staff support for members identifying as LGBTIQA+ are important to the university.

Corporate Relations and Marketing

We join our fellow Africans to celebrate Africa Day, 25 May

25 May 2023

The North-West University (NWU), joins all fellow Africans across the African continent and the diaspora in celebrating Africa Day 2023. May 25, Africa Day – the annual celebration of the achievements and potential of the African continent celebrated in Africa and countries around the world – reminds us of our role and responsibility towards the development and growth of the African continent. This year’s Africa Day theme is “acceleration of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) implementation.” It is necessary for the implementation of AfCFTA to be fast-tracked and unlock the potential of a single market for goods and services of amost 1,3 billion people across our continent. The successful implementation of this ambitious undertaking will require the necessary knowledge and skills.

The NWU is already producing skilled graduates who are ready to play their part in various areas of AfCTA implementation. We are confident that our graduates such as engineers, economists, risk managers, chartered accountants, climatologists, and transport and logistics practitioners can make a meaningful contribution to this initiative and others around the globe. The quality of our graduates is confirmed by organisations such as the Center for World University Rankings (CWUR) which has recently  placed us at number ten (10) on the African continent, and among the top 4,4% of global universities. CWUR’s assessment pillars include

a)    education (looking at the academic success of a university’s alumni, and measured by the number of a university’s alumni who have won prestigious academic distinctions relative to the university’s size)
b)    employability (based on professional success of a university’s alumni and measured by the number of a university’s alumni who have held top positions at major companies relative to the university’s size)
c)    faculty (measured by the number of faculty members who have won prestigious academic distinctions); and
d)    research (measured in total number of research papers, the number of papers appearing in top-tier journals, those appearing in highly-influential journals and the number of highly-cited research papers).

The NWU, through its strategic centres and programmes is geared towards supporting Africa’s economic develoment and growth. For example, we will continue to offer specialised services and advice through these areas of expertise:

  1. Trade and Development (TRADE): With high-quality research and commercialised expertise, this research focus area has established governmental and business partnerships as well as extensive local and international collaborations in the United States of America, Asia, Africa, Europe and the Antipodean that delivers guiding research in the arenas of international trade and economic development.  
  2. Tourism Research in Economics, Environs and Society (TREES): The health of the tourism sector is at the heart of this research focus area. With research across Africa, TREES is commited to addressing relevant and current societal issues, improving the life of communities, and expanding knowledge about the tourism sector of our continent.
  3. Law, Justice and Sustainability: Because South Africa operates within the context of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the African Union and international law, this research unit specialises in investigating these relationships to find innovative solutions for the challenges of justice and sustainability in South Africa - and the region - as it relates to the rest of the world; and
  4. Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management (UESM): Hosting the African Centre for Disaster Studies which aims to address complex disaster risk and resilience building challenges in the African context, and with sub-programmes such as Climate Change, Air Quality and Impacts which aims to provide key information to support the development of sustainable air quality policies and practices in Southern Africa, this research unit is an indispensible tool in ensuring maximum growth leaves a minimum ecological footprint.  

We currently have about six (6) active partnerships with our counterparts on the African continent. As part of our internationalisation programme, we plan to increase these and ensure that we enhance the outputs and impact of the partnerships. We are proud to be a home to more than 640 students from 23 African countries apart from South Africa. We look forward to host more students, (both under-graduate and post-graduate) from other countries on the continent. Globally, universities that excel employ staff from various countries who bring different skills and the diversity of perspectives into universities. We are also proud that we have staff from across the continent and beyond who play a key role towards the success of the NWU. This confirms our commitment to be a truly African university that promotes diversity and inclusivess.

I urge members of the NWU community to use this Africa Day as an opportunity to develop and strengthen various areas of the NWU to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the  African Continental Free Trade Area and other programmes on our continent.

Asante
Ndatenda
Melesi!
E dupe

Prof Mzubanzi Bismark Tyobeka
Principal and Vice-Chancellor

Taking the NWU forward: Stakeholder consultation process

16 May 2023

Dear NWU stakeholder

Please receive my warm NWU greetings. We are fast approaching the winter season and I hope you are making the necessary preparations to deal with the cold season and the opportunistic illnesses that often accompany it. I would like to take this opportunity to provide you with an update regarding the ongoing strategy review process. The NWU strategy review process is of significant importance towards shaping the future of our university and exploring new opportunities – nationally and internationally.

Since the start of this process, we have actively engaged with various university stakeholders to gather their valuable input and insights. We recognise the need for a broader stakeholder engagement and participation by NWU stakeholders at multiple levels, both within and outside the university. The consultation process began with a questionnaire that was circulated to all staff in February 2023. In addition to the questionnaire that most of you have completed and made very insightful contributions towards the assessment of operational efficiency and effectiveness, the NWU Business School has conducted comprehensive interviews with stakeholders from diverse groups/units across the university. These interactions – individual interviews and focus groups – have offered valuable perspectives and will definitely enable us to identify areas of improvement. A progress report will be shared once it has been processed through relevant structures.

The next phase of the process will involve discussions and consultations with relevant structures such as the NWU Convocation, Senate, faculty boards and management teams in both academic and support environments as well as student structures. This will take place during May and June 2023 across our campuses. We envisage that this inclusive approach will ensure that the voices of various academic disciplines and support departments, student structures, alumni, and donors are heard and duly considered.

Following these consultations, we will hold a session with all stakeholders to share the findings and discuss the way forward. Moreover, we have planned walkabouts across the university during the months of July and August 2023. This will further provide an opportunity to directly engage with all stakeholders.

Your active participation and invaluable contribution during these upcoming sessions will be greatly appreciated. We need you to share your knowledge and lived experiences within the various areas of the NWU to build a more successful and sustainable higher education institution. Therefore, I urge you to set aside time for this process. I firmly believe that working together and leveraging our collective expertise, we can create a strategy that will propel our institution to new frontiers.

I look forward to seeing you during the sessions. Thank you for your continued support.


Please view the message from the chief strategy officer, Ntsikie Kote, regarding the strategy review and the importance of dialogue to take the NWU forward.

Yours sincerely

Prof Mzubanzi Bismark Tyobeka
Principal and Vice-Chancellor

 

Notice about the passing of Prof Dan Kgwadi

1 May 2023

It is with a heavy heart and sadness that we announce the untimely passing of Prof. Dan Kgwadi, the former principal and vice-chancellor of the NWU. Prof. Dan Kgwadi was reportedly very ill and passed away last night (30 April 2023). Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this very difficult time. The family will guide on further details regarding the funeral and other arrangements.

Prof Mzubanzi Bismark Tyobeka
Principal and Vice-Chancellor

Happy Workers Day to the lifeblood of the NWU - workers/employees

1 May 2023

On this International Workers Day, we join the international community to celebrate the achievements of workers, especially our employees. We acknowledge your outstanding contribution and unwavering commitment to the development and growth of our country - South Africa, the North-West University (NWU), and the communities we serve. We do this because we are part of the global community, and we care about your continued determination and contribution amid the various issues and challenges that affect you and your families.

On behalf of the University Management, I extend our deepest appreciation for your continued hard work and dedication towards realising the NWU’s dream and strategy. Your dedication, resilience, and devotion remain the key ingredients behind our success. Your knowledge and skills are a key component towards enabling our students and members of the communities around us to reach their full potential.

I take this opportunity to reassure you that the NWU management will always respect, protect, and promote the rights of its employees. The policies and rules that we have put in place in compliance with various pieces of legislation including the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) and the Labour Relations ACT (LRA) are testimonials to our commitment and resolve. In addition, we have developed and approved policies such as the primary health care policy, employee wellness policy, gender-based violence policy, and sexual harassment policy to promote our employees’ wellbeing and protect those who may be vulnerable.

In consideration of the dynamics and demands of the new world of work, the University Management has recently approved the New World of Work – Hybrid Working Guidelines to enable employees’ flexibility while expecting improved productivity from employees. Please be reminded that all the relevant NWU policies and rules, including the performance management policy will be strictly applied during the implementation of these guidelines. I know that it may be a challenge for some employees to adjust and find equitable balance between work and family responsibilities. Therefore, I encourage all employees to use the employees’ support services offered by the NWU and our partners. Mental health and burnout are prevalent in many workplaces today; thus, we must proactively guard against such opportunistic illnesses.

Colleagues, respect for employees’ rights applies not only to the University Management, but to all NWU staff at all levels. Please allow me to reiterate the need for openness, transparency, and solution-oriented engagements between the University Management and all employees. My office is always available to engage with employees regarding the future strategic direction of the NWU. I must emphasise that we must approach all issues that affect the university and its employees in a transparent, fair, pragmatic, and aim to achieve amicable and sustainable solutions that will benefit all stakeholders.  

I am aware that in your determination and drive to offer efficient and effective service to our stakeholders, your families may sometimes feel your absence and neglect. I take this opportunity to thank your families for their understanding and sacrifices. We are forever indebted to them. Please make time to spend with family and friends, rejuvenate, and ready yourself for the busy schedule ahead of us.

Once again, a happy Workers Day to all NWU employees

Thank you

Prof. M.B. Tyobeka
Principal and vice-chancellor: NWU

 

 

Freedom Day: a day of reflection and recommittment

27 April 2023

As the North-West University (NWU), Freedom Day gives us an opportunity to reflect and appreciate our journey towards building a truly inclusive and sustainable higher education institution. Since our establishment in 2004 – 10 years after the first democratic elections in our country – a lot has been expected from us. I must say that a realistic assessment of our work will confirm that we have indeed made significant progress, and recorded some very impressive milestones in various areas of our work. As I said during my inauguration address in August 2022, we must thank all stakeholders who have made our achievements, thus far, possible. I am always thrilled when I am on any of our campuses and see the infrastructure developments, the growth and diversity of our student and staff populations, as well as linkages that we have built with communities and other stakeholders. We have a lot to be proud of amid the internal and external challenges in the environment within which we operate.

The lessons this university has learnt over the past 19 years equipped us to understand and respond to the challenges and  to take much better advantage of opportunities. We are now more knowledgeable to appreciate that the success and long-term sustainability of the NWU demands us to be more innovative, and diversify our sources of income. This is one of the major reasons that we are proposing the establishment of the NWU Enterprises (Pty) Ltd. We know that it will not be easy, but the alternative will lead us to a dire situation that would affect a lot of our stakeholders negatively, and kill whatever is left of their South African dream.

Furthermore, we are now, more than ever, appreciative of the need to position ourselves for more partnerships and collaborations with both the public and private sectors, as well as other higher education institutions in South Africa and elsewhere. We have already signed a few agreements with relevant organisations and some of them have already begun to yeild positive results for our students and staff. We are also intensifying our internationalisation programme to broaden our scope for partnerships and collaborations in strategic areas that will benefit the NWU community, and our country.

These are just a few areas that fall within our framework for the new strategic direction which we have begun to craft, and will ultimately be tabled at Council for consideration. The consultation process for the new NWU Strategy will commence shortly. Therefore, I urge all our stakeholders to reflect on the challenges, successes, and opportunities upon which we can leverage and catapult the NWU to new heights.

I have high expectations that the NWU community, especially the academics will voice and register their views and solutions that would enhance our new strateggy and position us to remain  globally competitive, relevant, and impactful. Staff should feel free to do this because one of the precious gifts that the post-1994 dispensation presented to us is the Bill of Rights in the Constitution. The Constitution guarantees us freedom of expression which includes, a) freedom of the press and other media, b) freedom to receive and impart information or ideas, c) freedom of artistic creativity and, d) academic freedom and freedom of scientific research. Of course, these rights come with responsibilities and accountability. Therefore, we must exercise our right to freedom responsibly and purposefully to build a successful and sustainable NWU.  

The challenges that we encounter towards building a successful country as envisioned by the late President Mandela should not deter us from dreaming of a better tomorrow. We must continue to be solution-oriented and make a positive impact in the areas of our responsibility and accountability.  
Once again, I call upon us to use this Freedom Day to recommit ourselves individually and collectively in order to continue the transformation journey of the NWU and create more opportunities for the future generations.
Let Freedom Day be “recommittment day” towards a successful and sustainable NWU.

Best wishes

Prof. Bismark Tyobeka
Pricipal and vice-chancellor: NWU

 

We are united behind our Eagles

17 April 2023

Tonight our North-West University Eagles face Ikeys from UCT in the final of the Varsity Cup. It is going to be a momentous occasion and I want to thank everyone who made this possible. Let’s unite behind our Eagles and make our voices heard. Together we are a force to be reckoned with and I couldn’t be more pleased or happier with the way we will collectively face this challenging but exciting match.

From the kick-off to when the final whistle blows, it will be 23 brave players (giants) taking the fight to the opposition. So, to our team and their coaches I want to say: You have already made me, and the entire North-West University community proud. Today is about you. Go out there and enjoy yourselves. History is waiting to write your names. We believe in you. Now, go get them boys!

Prof Bismark Tyobeka
Principal and Vice-Chancellor

No spectators allowed at Varsity Cup match of 20 March 2023

20 March 2023

On advice of the SAPS, unfortunately no spectators will be allowed at the Varsity Cup match tonight. Tickets will be refunded.

You can still be part of the action - watch the live stream of the Varsity Cup game between our NWU Eagles & CUT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARYa9vrXTD8

We join the world in observing International Women's Day 2023

8 March 2023

On this International Women's Day, we join the world in calling for equal rights and an end to violence and abuse against women and girls. The International Women's Day is a global event that is marked annually on 8 March to highlight issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women. The theme for the 2023 International Women's Day is "DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality", which highlights the role of innovative technology in promoting gender equality and meeting the health and developmental needs of women and girls.

We have embraced challenges and opportunities presented by technological advances and innovations to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in our work. Some of these innovations have enabled flexibility and agility in our operations. The roll-out of our digital business strategy is well underway and has the potential to increase the efficiencies of our operations. However, the implementation of our digital business strategy must consider the different circumstances under which our staff operate, as well as the communities and schools from where our prospective and current students come.

We have done relatively well in terms of the achievement of gender equity among our staff and students. Sixty-four percent (64%) of our student population is women, while our staff is 56% women. Our governance and management structures have processes in place to ensure that the composition of the various committees remains inclusive and diverse. We are proud of the progress thus far. However, we must continue to maintain and emphasise the need for inclusiveness and diversity across all areas within the NWU.

Gender-based violence, femicide, and abuse of women and girls remain huge problems and concerns in our country. The NWU Council has approved the Gender-Based Violence policy and the Sexual Harassment policy which are aimed at addressing these issues within the staff and students' environments. We must accept that policies alone are not sufficient to deal with the scourge of violence. Therefore, we will continue to inculcate a human rights culture among the broader NWU community and deal harshly with anyone whose actions undermine the letter and spirit of our policies and culture.

Let us observe this International Women's Day with full understanding and commitment to invest our energies towards equity, inclusiveness, and the eradication of femicide and violence against women and girls.

Malibongwe igama la makhosikazi
Thank you
Prof Bismark Tyobeka
Principal and Vice-Chancellor
Your feedback will be appreciated

An update on the registration and the academic programme from the vice-chancellor

28 February 2023

On Friday, 24 February 2023, we sent you a message confirming the extension of the registration period until 1 March 2023.

We had extended the registration to allow students who were still experiencing financial difficulties to resolve their challenges. We are satisfied with the number of students who have registered since the extension. The interventions that we have put in place, as well as the assistance from our external partners and stakeholders have assisted greatly, thus far.

As you are already aware, the Student Representative Council (SRC) received one million three hundred thousand rands (R1 300 000.00) from the Motsepe Foundation which the SRC has decided to distribute equitably across all three campuses and in the distance learning environment. In addition, on the side of management, an amount of one million, nine hundred, and fifty thousand rand (R1 950 000.00) has been secured to augment the SRC efforts.

This brings us to a total of three million, two hundred, and fifty thousand rand (R3 250 000.00), which will be distributed equitably across all campuses and in the distance learning environment to assist academically deserving students. The distribution of these funds will commence immediately. The Finance and Registration Committee in which the SRC and respective campus SCC’s are represented will be responsible for the allocation. Our campaign to secure more funding from current and prospective donors will continue. Our donors have expressed their satisfaction with the stability that we have maintained across our campuses thus far. We are cautiously optimistic that this will translate into more funding coming our way.  

As at Tuesday, 28 February 2023, we have 11 437 contact first-time entry students (FTENs) who are fully registered, and 1 184 conditionally registered. About 37 993 contact senior students are fully registered, and 3 136 conditionally registered. Our distance enrolments are also progressing well, with 1 360 fully registered FTENs against a target of 1 175. We know that some of the senior students are still waiting their NSFAS appeal feedback.  Regrettably, the NSFAS processes, including the appeals, are beyond the university’s control or influence.  

Based on the above, the registration period has been further extended until Friday, 3 March 2023, at 23:59. Face-to-face classes on our Mahikeng Campus will resume on Monday 6 March 2023. Classes on the Potchefstroom and Vanderbijlpark campuses will continue as normal. Faculties have put measures in place to ensure that students who register during this period are not left behind in terms of their academic programme. 

We thank the student leadership including the SRC, SCC, and all subordinate student leadership structures for their continued commitment and efforts in maintaining a vibrant student life.  We must remain focused towards a successful completion of the 2023 academic year.

I wish you a very fruitful and successful academic year.
 
Prof Mzubanzi Bismark Tyobeka 

Registration extended until 1 March 2023

24 February 2023

Some of our students (first year and returning) still need to finalise their registration. Therefore, the registration period has been extended until Wednesday, 1 March 2023 at 23:59.

We urge students to comply with the necessary processes, including obtaining propensity letters from faculties, and uploading the signed propensity letters on the NSFAS appeals portal.

The NWU academic programme will continue for all students, and provisionally registered students will continue to have access to eFundi. The university will do everything possible to accommodate students whose registration was concluded after the commencement of classes (Monday, 20 February 2023).

Warm regards  
Prof Marlene Verhoef
Registrar: NWU

 

Further extension of the registration period and other challenges

21 February 2023

The university has made significant progress regarding the registration process, however we acknowledge that some of our students (senior students and provisionally registered students) are still experiencing difficulties and uncertainties which include confirmation of funding. Therefore, we have further extended the registration period until Friday, 24 February 2023 at 23:59 to allow these students to finalise their registration.

The NWU academic programme commenced on 20 February 2023. Provisionally registered students will continue to have access to eFundi, as was the case in the past.

We are also in constant discussions with NSFAS regarding the appeal process for returning students and want to assure you that everything possible is being done to have this resolved.  

The university is also aware of the problems that some of our students are experiencing to secure accommodation during this registration period. We are working with our partners in the communities to explore practical ways and means in finding sustainable solutions to these challenges.

We thank the Student Representative Council and the Student Campus Councils across our three campuses for their proactive and solutions-oriented efforts to assist in improving the situation.

Students who are still struggling to find accommodation are encouraged to contact the Residence Offices on the campuses.

Warm regards  

Prof Marlene Verhoef
Registrar: NWU

Suspension of classes - Mahikeng Campus 2023

21 February 2023

Management has resolved to suspend face-to-face classes at the Mahikeng Campus until Friday, 24 February 2023. This is due to acts of intimidation and violence against some staff and students this morning, Monday,20 February 2023. The learning material for this week will be published on eFundi to enable students to continue with their teaching programme and communicate with their lecturers. Students (fully and provisionally registered) already have access to eFundi. We continue to work with relevant stakeholders including the Student Representative Council (SRC) and the Student Campus Councils (SCCs) to find sustainable solutions to the issues and concerns.
The Mahikeng Campus Management will update the campus community regarding solutions for issues that were discussed at the meeting with stakeholders including the SCC, yesterday, 19 February 2023.
 I must emphasise that the North-West University (NWU) is fully committed to ensuring a successful academic year; thus, we will speedily resolve issues that fall within our control. We will also continue to liaise with other stakeholders in the higher education system to finalise matters that affect the academic programme. We will update you regarding developments in this regard.

Best wishes

Prof. Bismark Tyobeka
Principal and vice-chancellor: NWU

 

Update on the registration process for first year and senior students

17 February 2023

Dear student

The University Management is satisfied with how the registration process for first year as well as returning students has unfolded up until now. As at 17 February 2023, more than 13 800 first-year students (contact and distance) have been registered (fully registered or provisionally registered.) When including returning students, close to 54 000 students (contact and distance) have been registered.  Although progress has been made in finalising the registration of those students who were only provisionally registered, some students are still awaiting financial clearance to complete their registration.

Some of our senior and provisionally registered students are still experiencing difficulties and uncertainties such as confirmation of funding. Consequently, we have extended the registration period until Wednesday, 22 February 2023 at 23:59. We trust that this will allow more students to finalise their registration and be part of the full academic programme.

Kindly note that the registration status of students (first years and returning students) can only be made final once their funding status has been confirmed. Regrettably, students who are only provisionally registered will not be allowed to attend classes or occupy university residences.

Our academic programme is scheduled to commence on 20 February 2023. Arrangements are underway to ensure that provisionally registered students can have access to eFundi. Further information in this regard will be communicated soon.

Best wishes

Issued: NWU Corporate Relations and Marketing

Voice note on Christianity

16 February 2023

The North-West University (NWU) has been alerted about a voice note by an alleged student called Mira, indicating that students are not allowed to practice their Christian beliefs on the Potchefstroom Campus. This is not only ridiculous, but also laughable and deeply disturbing. Actions like these are aimed at causing disharmony and polarisation among the NWU community, and must be condemned and punished harshly whenever perpetrators are found. No infringement of the Constitutional Rights of any individual will ever be allowed at the NWU. We distance ourselves from the content of the voice note and urge our stakeholders to ignore such mischievous actions. 

Voice note

Extension of the registration period

16 February 2023

 

Dear student

We acknowledge that some of our students (senior students and provisionally registered students) are still experiencing difficulties and uncertainties which include confirmation of funding from sponsors such as NSFAS. Therefore, we have extended the registration period until Wednesday, 22 February 2023 at 23:59 to allow these students to finalise their registration and be part of the academic programme.

The NWU academic programme is still scheduled to commence on 20 February 2023. Provisionally registered students will have access to eFundi, as it was the case in the past.

In line with our ethic of care, we continue to work with all stakeholders to ensure that we explore all potential solutions to avoid exclusion of any student(s). We will, in collaboration with other key stakeholders, continue to monitor the situation closely, and update you accordingly.

Best wishes  

Prof Marlene Verhoef
Registrar: NWU

 

Update on the registration process for first year and senior students

 

Dear student

As at 9 February 2023, close to 12 500 first-year students (contact and distance) have been registered (fully registered or preliminarily registered.) When including returning students, close to 48 000 students (contact and distance) have been registered.  A range of issues including funding are crucial to ensure that students are fully registered. Therefore, many of the provisionally registered students are still awaiting financial clearance to complete their registration.

The university recognises that the late release of the NSFAS funding results, not only to the NWU, but to the public higher education sector in general, has an impact on many students’ registration and access to campus(es). NSFAS has committed to process the applications and update the university regularly. We remain optimistic about this undertaking and recommit ourselves to assist where possible to ensure that our students commence with their academic programme timeously.

It must be re-emphasised that this unbearable situation is not unique to the NWU but is affecting all public universities.

Kindly take note that the registration status of students (first years and returning students) can only be made final once their funding status has been confirmed.  Regrettably, students who are conditionally registered will not be allowed to make use of university facilities or occupy university residences. There are waiting lists for placement in residences across our three campuses, and should students not take up their places, those on the waiting lists will be contacted.

For any enquiries regarding your registration status, kindly contact the relevant person for the respective faculties.

All issues relating to the smooth registration of our students are receiving priority attention from the University Management, and you will be kept abreast as and when matters are resolved.

Kind regards

University Management

Taking the NWU forward

Welcome to the 2023 academic year.

I trust that you are reinvigorated and ready to face this year's challenges and take advantage of the opportunities ahead. The engagements and activities in which my office has been involved since the beginning of the year indicate that it is going to be a demanding but exciting and rewarding year. I am happy to see that many prospective students who have applied to study at the NWU are beginning to accept our offers and busy with their registration. We are aware of the financial and other related problems that some of the prospective students are experiencing, and we will continue to work with relevant stakeholders to address these problems. We remain committed to academic excellence and a vibrant student life across our campuses. Therefore, we will ensure that we support all qualifying students, and facilitate their access and success at the NWU.

I am also happy with the work that the NWU senior management team has begun to set out for the future. Senior management and some relevant officials participated in a two-day strategic planning session – bosberaad/lekgotla – during November/December 2022. The session discussed and resolved a range of pertinent issues that affect the NWU's strategy and operations. Management will embark on a consultative process with relevant stakeholders including NWU governance structures and staff regarding these resolutions and proposals. The issues that the consultative process will focus on include among others:

  1. The NWU's current operational model: The NWU Business School has been tasked with the responsibility to evaluate the current operational model. This process will involve the review and assessment of the achievements and challenges of the current operations model focusing on efficiencies and effectiveness. To this end, the university community will form part of the consultation process. I urge all stakeholders who may be invited to participate in this process to do so, to ensure that we have an inclusive process that will result in an outcome that is representative of the collective views and experiences. There may be aspects that are currently working well and contribute significantly towards improved productivity; however, equally, there may be aspects that are not optimal, and are hampering productivity and effective unification. Your lived experience is important to us as it will help in understanding how we can improve efficiencies and be more effective.
  2. Traditional vs comprehensive university: Management resolved that the NWU is and should remain a traditional university. Our relevant portfolios such as Teaching and Learning must ensure that the necessary interventions are in place to align our offerings with this commitment.
  3. Distance Learning: Management resolved that this remains a crucial offering for the NWU and that the Teaching and Learning portfolio together with other relevant structures within the NWU must consolidate the discussions that took place with faculties and report at appropriate structures such as University Management Committee and Senate.
  4. Reimagining student-centricity at the NWU: The Bosberaad/Lekgotla resolved to embark on a process to improve student value proposition. The Student Information System (SIS) project will form the basis of the interventions in this area.
  5. NWU Business School: The NWU Business School is one of our flagship portfolios. Therefore, it needs to be appropriately resourced and implement its strategy and plan without unnecessary and rigid processes. This is important to ensure the NWU Business School's competitiveness and sustainability. Management will pursue all the necessary interventions to unlock the business school's capability and potential; and
  6. NWU Enterprise (Pty) Limited: The diversification of income streams for the NWU is a necessity. To this end, management has resolved to pursue the establishment of the NWU Enterprises (Pty) Limited to enhance our capability to harness third-stream income.

In addition to addressing current strategic issues, the Bosberaad considered to explore the following as per my inaugural address:

  1. The establishment of a veterinary school;
  2. Collaboration with Colleges of Agriculture in the North West province;
  3. The establishment of a centre for sustainable mining;
  4. A programme to increase the capacity of municipal and provincial government;
  5. The establishment of a medical school;
  6. Aggressive expansion of the NWU internationally through strategic collaboration, partnerships and the hosting of international students;
  7. Focus on funding for postgraduate students and the missing middle;
  8. Strengthen our fundraising capacity; and
  9. Implement a Staff Cost Optimisation programme.

These are ambitious goals, some of which are already on-going through various initiatives in relevant faculties and support departments. There will be a process of prioritisation to ensure proper execution and implementation for all of these.

What is needed at this stage is an "all hands-on deck" approach to ensure that we work towards the realisation of the dream of our university. Let us work together to ensure that we remain one of the leading higher education institutions on the African continent.

I look forward to interacting with you collectively and individually to ensure a shared vision in the implementation of our strategy and plans.

Best wishes for the year.

Thank you!
Baie dankie!
Ndiyabulela!
Kealeboga!

Prof Bismark Tyobeka
Principal and Vice-Chancellor