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NWU Homepage, The NWU officially came into being on 1 January 2004 as part of the South African government’s plan to transform higher education. In our case, this saw a historically white university and a historically black university merging to create a new university where South Africans from all walks of life have come together.
The historically black university was the former University of North-West, whose students were mostly black people from rural communities. The historically white university was the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, whose students were mostly white Afrikaans people from Christian backgrounds. A third party was the Sebokeng Campus of another mainly black university, Vista, whose staff and students were incorporated.
Their coming together to form the North-West University (NWU) was a strong symbolic act of reconciliation and nation building – and a highly effective one. The transition to the unified NWU has been hailed as one of the most successful and stable higher education mergers in South Africa. Each year since the merger, the NWU has produced a healthy financial surplus, improved student pass rates, increased research output and risen in the corporate governance rankings for South African universities.
This stability reflects the culture of consultation at the NWU, our clear vision, values and mission, our effective governance and leadership, and the well-defined strategic and operational plans we have made to take the NWU into the future.
Our Dream

To be an internationally recognised university in Africa, distinguished for engaged scholarship, social responsiveness and an ethic of care.

Our Purpose
To excel in innovative learning and teaching and cutting-edge research, thereby benefitting society through knowledge.

Our Brand Promise
Dynamic. Values-driven. Excellence.

Values
NWU will foster engaged and caring staff and students and embed the following foundational values, based on the constitutional values of human dignity, equality and freedom:
– Ethics in all endeavours
– Academic integrity
– Academic freedom and freedom of scientific research
– Responsibility, accountability, fairness and transparency
– Embracing diversity.

Strategy statement

To transform and to position the NWU as a unitary institution of superior academic excellence, with a commitment to social justice.

Click here to read the complete NWU strategy as approved by Council.

GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governance Structures: Council Committees

All committees of Council function under a mandate of strategic or financial importance to the NWU. They are chaired by persons with the requisite knowledge, skills and experience, and operate under clear terms of reference.

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee deals with governance matters between Council meetings and reports on these matters at the next meeting. It also ensures that the Code of Conduct for Council members is upheld, and finalises matters referred to it by Council.

Members:
1. Chairperson of Council: Dr MB Tyobeka (CHAIRPERSON)
2. Deputy Chairperson of Council: VACANT
3. External Member of Council: Mr I Klynsmith
4. External Member of Council: Mr F Strydom
5. Vice-Chancellor: Prof ND Kgwadi
6. Vice-Principal: Prof JJ Janse van Rensburg
7. Registrar: Prof M Verhoef (ex officio secretary)

Committee co-ordinator: Amanda van der Merwe

Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee

This Committee is accountable to Council for the performance of its duties, which are to safeguard the NWU’s assets, to maintain adequate accounting records, to develop and maintain an effective system of internal control, to oversee management’s role in creating and maintaining a proper risk management process, and to authorise the annual audit fee of the external auditors. The Committee provides a channel of communication between the Council, management, the internal audit function and the external auditors. It enjoys unrestricted communication with the Chairperson of Council (who is not a member of the Audit Committee), the Vice-Chancellor, the Executive Director: Finance and Facilities, and the internal and external auditors.

Members:
1. External Member of Council: Mr A Redelinghuis (CHAIRPERSON)
2. External Member of Council: Mr S de Bruyn
3. External Member of Council: Mr MJS Thabethe
4. Independent expert: Dr K van der Walt
5. External Member of Council: Mr A Sorgdrager
6. Executive Director: Finance and Facilities: Me E de Beer (in attendance)
7. Vice-Chancellor: Prof ND Kgwadi (in attendance)
8. Registrar: Prof M Verhoef (ex officio secretary)