RHODES University opened its three day graduation period on a high note yesterday, with the institution set to award 2 367 degrees - the highest number in the history of the Grahamstown university.
Rhodes is particularly proud of the record number of doctorates and masters degrees being conferred, at 71 and 286 respectively.
Last year, a total of 2 288 students graduated at the university.
Presiding over his last graduation at the university, outgoing vice-chancellor Dr Saleem Badat said this saw Rhodes yielding the country's highest graduation rate.
"Given our total student body of 7 485, this is by far the best graduation rate among South African universities," he said.
Badat was pleased with the rise in doctorates in the education and humanities faculties.
"We congratulate our education and humanities faculties for their new records of graduating 14 and 12 PhDs respectively," he said.
"To appreciate the significance of the 71 PhDs, you have to note that a sister university that is four times our size and has more than 30 000 students will award 72 PhDs at its graduation ceremonies."
The graduation started with the education and humanities faculties in yesterday's morning session and commerce in the evening.
Today's graduation ceremonies include commerce, law, pharmacy, science and humanities.
By Zandile Mbalela
Source: The Herald