Issue 36 Feb 2009
RHODES UNIVERSITY ALUMNI
E-MAIL NEWSLETTER, FEBRUARY 2009 - ISSUE 36
THE VICE-CHANCELLOR’S WELCOME SPEECH TO NEW STUDENTS - FACTS AND FIGURES
Rhodes is the smallest university in South Africa, and this year we anticipate that the numbers could grow to 6,700 students. 8,800 applications were received, of which over 1,738 were accepted and registered during orientation week. Of these 8,800 applications, 6 200 were local students and 2 600 were international students.
• 57% of our students are women.
• 24% of our students or almost 1 in 4 are postgraduates.
• Almost 23% of the students are international students from over 50 countries around the world.
• Rhodes has the most favourable academic staff to student ratio among South African universities.
• Best undergraduate pass rates and graduation rates in South Africa, and outstanding postgraduate success rates.
• Highest proportion among South African universities of academic staff with doctoral degrees.
• Best research output per academic staff member of any university in South Africa.
• Overall among South African universities we have one of the best track records for the winning of Rhodes scholarships.
• For 2009, 4 out of the 28 Mandela Rhodes scholarships were awarded to Rhodes University students.
• Almost 50% of all Rhodes’ students and the vast majority of new students, will live in the University’s 46 residences and be associated with its 10 halls, in which up to 9 000 meals will be served daily.
• Last year two new residences at a cost of R 32 million were opened to house an additional 146 students. A further two new residences housing 208 more students will open this year.
Full speech available at: http://www.ru.ac.za/alumni/news/vcswelcometonewstudents
NEW LIBRARY PROJECT
Due for completion at the end of this year, the new library will possess every facility that is essential for cutting-edge academic and research endeavours. At the same time we will also extensively refurbish the current library. This is a R90 million investment on our part, the single biggest investment in the history of Rhodes University and in the town of Grahamstown. For more information please go to: http://www.ru.ac.za/libraryexpansionproject
MYSCHOOL – SUPPORTING OLD RHODIAN BURSARIES
Rhodes University has been registered as a beneficiary of MySchool. Any money raised through this partnership will be channelled through the Old Rhodian Union into the bursary fund for children and grandchildren of Old Rhodians.
MySchool is South Africa's foremost community support programme and gives Old Rhodians in South Africa a vehicle through which to make a meaningful contribution to the Old Rhodian Bursary Fund. This is not a donation service, but a true partnership between beneficiaries and MySchool business partners. MySchool effectively facilitates support on behalf of a range of business partners who have a specific interest in education. Supporters use their MySchool supporter cards whenever they transact with one of the MySchool business partners. A small percentage of their transaction is then allocated to their beneficiary school. All these transactions are recorded and a statement is sent to individual supporters on a monthly basis. The supporter card is not a debit or credit card but serves as a measure through which valuable supporter data, such as transactions and funds raised for a particular school, are tracked. This is not a donation service, but a true partnership between schools and business partners. To read more about MySchool and to apply for your supporters card please go to http://www.myschool.co.za/ - don’t forget to register Rhodes University as your beneficiary.
OLD RHODIAN NEWS
It is amazing to read about what our Old Rhodians are up to selected articles are posted to our web page, a few examples of which are:
• Jock Pugh (1926) celebrated his 100th birthday
• Brian (1955) and Averil (Dickens)(1956) Heath win medals at the 2008 World Masters Squash Championships
• Marguerite Poland (1968) The Boy in You by Marguerite Poland – a history of St Andrew’s College Grahamstown.
• Judith Bishop (Mullins)(1969) The recipient of the 2008 Computer Society of SA Fellowship Award.
• Andrew Timm (1981) is the producer of the MNET show Coconuts.
• Sean Bovim (1984) is an award-winning South African choreographer.
• Mzolisi Diliza (1984) is the chief executive of the Chamber of Mines of South Africa.
• Nazmeera Moola (1989) is head of Macro-strategy at Macquarie Bank.
• Seelan Gobalsamy (1993) has been appointed as managing director of Old Mutual Corporate,
• Queen Nkomo (1995) is Mobile Transactions Solutions’ head of the cell phone channel at First National Bank
• Siphokazi Magadla (2004) Rhodes journalism graduate is now completing her post-graduate studies at Ohio University.
To read more news click here http://www.ru.ac.za/alumni/news/oldrhodiannews
