Dear alumni

As you may remember, last year the NWU conducted an extensive survey among you, our alumni.  Part of this survey was to establish your communication preferences.

Some of the results showed us which topics you would like to read about. Here are the top five topics, listed from most to least relevant to you:

• Language policy
• Challenges at the NWU
• Quality assurance
• Strategic management and planning
• Campus news

When it comes to specific areas, you told us that the following topics are important to you:

• Teaching and learning: new qualifications, international cooperation, short courses, faculty news and lecturers’ achievements
• Research and innovation: implementation of expertise, research achievements, innovation and technology, and postgraduate fields of study
• Student affairs: students’ employment success rates, achievements and cultural and sports activities, as well as the general student experience
• Alumni matters: career services available to alumni, alumni making an exceptional contribution, alumni events and reunions, opportunities for alumni to mentor students, and awards that alumni receive.

As far as research matters are concerned, this news is brought to you via a special electronic newsletter, research@nwu, a few times a year. To avoid repetition, we don’t feature research in the NWU & U too.

However, as far as the other topics you mentioned are concerned, we are going to do our best to bring you news about them during the year ahead. In fact, in this edition we have already started to write about them. Examples include the article on the revision of the NWU’s language policy, and the article about how the university ensures the quality of its academic programmes. You will also find three stories covering campus news, namely:

• Improving food security through vegetable gardening
• Opera alumni excel in competition
• Taking hands to help future accountants

Remember, you don’t have to wait for the next alumni survey to have your say – you are always welcome to give us feedback about the NWU & U. In the grey column on the right-hand side of every page is a “send” button and an invitation that reads as follows:  “Please send us your comments, suggestions and any other contributions you would like to make, for instance photographs or news snippets. We value your opinions and input – after all, the NWU & U belongs to us all.”

Come on, send us your feedback – and in the meantime: happy reading.

Nelia and the

NWU & U team