“Universities often blame students for being disengaged, but what if the real problem lies in how we teach?” This was the provocative question posed by Professor Jonathan Jansen of Stellenbosch University during his recent seminar at Rhodes University’s First Principles: Higher Education Seminar Series. Far from a dry academic talk, the seminar offered a bold and deeply human vision for the future of education in South Africa.

The 10th of September marked World Suicide Prevention Day, with September being marked as suicide prevention month worldwide. In light of this, one of Rhodes University’s initiatives was a powerful collaboration between its Drama Department and Counselling Centre, which reminded the community that healing begins with stories.

When WordFest returned to Makhanda on 19–20 September 2025, it brought with it a chorus of memory and hope, voiced in various languages. For many in the audience, it felt like a homecoming. A festival that had almost vanished was back, carrying the spirit of its founder, the late Professor Chris Mann, and the promise of new beginnings.

The future of higher education in South Africa rests with scholars who are bold, collaborative, and committed to communities of care. Rhodes University recently hosted a celebratory send-off colloquium, bringing together academics, scholars, and higher education leaders to acknowledge the achievements of participants in national collaborative initiatives under the University Capacity Development Programme (UCDP).