Rhodes University is one of the 37 universities in the South Africa–Sweden University Forum (SASUF) set to receive a significant boost as part of a R25 million funding injection.

It is with immense sorrow that Rhodes University mourns the passing of Professor Peter Tshobisa Mtuze. Professor Mtuze was a towering figure in South African academia, literature, and the Anglican Church, whose contributions profoundly enriched the cultural and intellectual landscape of the nation. An Old Rhodian, former President of Convocation, and a recipient of the University's highest honour, an Honorary Doctorate, his loss is deeply felt by the entire Rhodes University community and beyond.

Rhodes University’s Human Kinetics and Ergonomics (HKE) Department is proud to announce its 80th anniversary, marking eight decades of pioneering education, research, and community engagement in the fields of sports science, human factors and ergonomics and physical activity. To commemorate this significant milestone, the department will host a dynamic symposium on 15 July 2025, bringing together leading minds in sports science, ergonomics, and physical activity.

Rhodes University has once again emerged as a creative powerhouse at the 2025 National Arts Festival - walking away with two Silver Ovation Awards and securing its place among the most compelling voices on the national Fringe stage.

One of this year’s standout moments at the National Arts Festival came early. A Childhood in Chalk, a moving inter-disciplinary piece from the Drama and Education Departments at Rhodes University, earned an Ovation Award on the Fringe programme.

As the National Arts Festival (NAF) opened its doors to another season of creative brilliance, a performance stood out not only for its musical excellence but for its emotional depth and cultural resonance. Echoes Across Continents: A Musical Journey from Europe to Africa, performed by accomplished pianist and Rhodes University PhD candidate Belinda de Villiers, was a fitting and poignant start to South Africa’s premier celebration of the arts.

Rhodes University deepens its long-standing relationship with the National Arts Festival (NAF) this year with a powerful offering that fuses research, pedagogy, and performance. With Makhanda as its canvas, Rhodes University continues to shape the national cultural conversation through bold, locally-rooted, and globally-relevant work.

Across Africa, a new wave of radio telescope deployments is igniting interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields and empowering future scientists. The TART (Transient Array Radio Telescope) project is a collaboration between the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO), Rhodes University, the University of Stellenbosch, and the University of Otago (New Zealand).

At the 2025 Rhodes University graduation ceremony, Professor Lausanne Olvitt was honoured with the Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Senior Teaching Award, showcasing her dedication to fostering inclusive and impactful learning environments.

Rhodes University recently honoured the academic achievements of 65 staff members at its annual Vice-Chancellor and Thomas Alty Awards. The recipients earned a diverse array of qualifications, including eight postgraduate diplomas, five advanced diplomas, 21 CHERTL certifications, two bachelor's degrees, four honours degrees, nine master’s degrees, and 16 PhDs.

Rhodes University hosted a heartfelt awards ceremony to honour and celebrate staff members' unwavering commitment and years of service. The 190 honourees have collectively dedicated a remarkable 3,005 years to the institution, an achievement the University recognised with deep appreciation and pride.

With a well-earned reputation for excellence in South African public education spanning more than 120 years, Rhodes University is set to embark on an exciting new chapter of international collaboration and innovation. Vice Chancellor, Professor Sizwe Mabizela, recently returned from the Forum of BRICS University Rectors in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, brimming with enthusiasm after the adoption of the transformative Rio de Janeiro Declaration on June 7, 2025.

To connect psychological theory with real-world practice, final-year Psychology students at Rhodes University recently partnered with SANCA Central Eastern Cape to create Instagram-based awareness campaigns focused on substance abuse prevention.

The Global Engagement Division, in collaboration with academic, students and external partners, succeeded in curating a month-long programme to celebrate Africa month, bringing African ideas, identities and innovations to the fore and affirming Rhodes University as an active and engaged space of learning, critical reflection, and public dialogue.

Inspired by the African Union’s 2025 theme “Year of Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations”, a panel discussion, chaired by Thabang Moleko from the Rhodes Business School, was held on 26 May, in celebration of Africa Day.

In a transformative step toward expanding access to higher education, Rhodes University proudly announces the launch of the Rhodes University 120th Anniversary Merit Scholarship, a prestigious new award aimed at recognising and empowering top-performing learners from the Makana Local Municipality.

Rhodes University has strengthened its commitment to creating an inclusive and enabling environment with the acquisition of a new bus. Designed to support students with disabilities, the vehicle marks an achievement in efforts to remove barriers to full participation in campus life. This was succeeded by the recent #Monday2Monday Movement advocacy campaign, aimed at helping raise disability awareness and promote greater accessibility and inclusivity for people with disabilities at Rhodes University.

Earlier this month, Rhodes University played host to some of South Africa’s most esteemed legal professionals during the 2025 Legal Practitioners Forum (LPF). Organised by Ms Sue Smailes, Director in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, in collaboration with the university’s Legal Unit, the event marked a significant milestone in legal collaboration across the country’s higher education sector.

Rhodes University students launched a magazine in October 2024 that goes beyond storytelling to give space, recognition, and respect to those who rarely see themselves represented. Intetho Magazine was created to celebrate often-ignored voices, with a special focus on young Black creatives. It is a project under Echoes of Uhuru, a personal and artistic multimedia initiative started by Nqobani Dabengwa to explore cultural storytelling through collaboration, expression, and radical imagination. Dabengwa is pursuing a Master's degree in Pharmacy Practice.

To empower students with effective academic strategies and promote well-being during exam season, the Oppidan Hall Committee, together with the Division for Student Services and Development (DSSD) and the Centre for Higher Education Research, Teaching and Learning (CHERTL), hosted a comprehensive Study Skills and Exam Preparation Workshop for Oppidan students ahead of the mid-semester exams at Amazwi South African Museum of Literature.

At the 2025 JMS Annual Academic Assembly, broadcast journalist Zikhona Tshona shared an inspiring message with aspiring reporters: journalism is a public service, anchored in dignity and respect. “Whether it is a child, a grandmother, or someone who has never had a voice, they matter,” she emphasised. “People need to see themselves represented in the news to believe in it.”

Rhodes University marked an important milestone in its commitment to advancing African scholarship with the official launch of the Africa Research and Knowledge Hub (ARKH), a dynamic new Research Group housed in the Department of Sociology.

By the time most academics retire, they have packed up their office plants, maybe published a few final papers, and faded into the footnotes of departmental memory, but not Professor Emeritus Alan Kirkaldy. At Rhodes University, where history comes alive through the library stacks, Prof Kirkaldy has done something quite revolutionary.

The Eastern Cape Postgraduate Funding Fair has become a landmark gathering that unites students, scholars, funders, and institutions across the province in a shared pursuit of educational advancement. Launched in 2024 at Rhodes University, the 2025 edition represented a compelling convergence of vision, collaboration, and opportunity at Nelson Mandela University (NMU).

Rhodes University marked a significant moment in its centenary celebrations with the RU120 Makhanda Community Concert, held at the 1820 Settler’s Monument. Headlined by legendary South African musician Sipho ‘Hotstix’ Mabuse, the concert formed part of the closing events for the university’s #RU120 celebrations.

Amid increasing pressure on universities to focus on global rankings, research output, and graduate employability, a recent dialogue hosted at Rhodes University made a powerful case for re-centering community engagement and the public good. The event, Higher Education Community Engagement: The Cultivation of Humanity, positioned these values as essential to university success.

Rhodes University recently hosted the Human Resource Directors’ Forum, which brought together senior HR leaders from South Africa’s public universities for two days of strategic discourse and reflection.

As the opening to Rhodes University's Africa Month celebrations, coordinated by the Global Engagement Division (GED), Logan Wort, Executive Secretary of the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF), delivered a compelling public keynote address, urging African nations to strengthen their fiscal sovereignty by mobilising domestic resources and reducing reliance on foreign aid.

On Tuesday, 6 May, Rhodes University hosted the inaugural lecture of Professor Matshidiso 'Tshidi' Mohapeloa at Eden Grove Blue, formally marking her promotion to full professor. The event drew colleagues, students, family, and friends who came to acknowledge her academic contributions and leadership.

In an inspiring show of talent, dedication, and the power of inclusive sports development, Rhodes University has once again proven that it is a force to be reckoned with, this time on the netball courts. On the 29th of March 2025, the first round of the Sarah Baartman District Netball Trials saw players dominate the courts, with 17 Rhodes University students selected across five different divisions: Under 19 Females, Under 21 Females, Senior Females, Under 23 Males, and Senior Males.

As exams loom over Rhodes University, a small but meaningful initiative reminded students to pause and prioritise something often overlooked during academic stress: their mental well-being. On a crisp Makhanda morning, a pair of wellness walks, organised by the university’s residence wellness representatives, encouraged students to breathe deeply, self-reflect, and begin their day with intention.

Rhodes University is excited to announce the RU120 Makhanda Community Concert, headlined by the legendary Sipho ‘Hotstix’ Mabuse, on the 10th of May 2025 at 15:00, at the 1820 Settlers’ Monument, Guy Butler Theatre, in Makhanda.

In a powerful display of creativity and a commitment to mental health awareness, Wellness Leaders stationed across Rhodes University residences have collaborated with the Counselling Centre to produce a striking piece of artwork. Coordinated by Catherine Parkinson, a psychologist at the University's Counselling Centre, the artwork takes the form of a large semicolon crafted from an array of brightly coloured bottle caps. This initiative, born from an idea conceived during last year's Suicide Prevention Awareness Day, recently graced the Steve Biko Building in late January, having received permission from the Visual Representation & Culture Committee.

The Rhodes University Library officially launched the Siyafundisana eMakhanda project last week at Samuel Ntlebi Primary School—one of four local public schools participating in a literacy initiative aimed at cultivating a love for reading among Grade 1 pupils. Funded by the South African Library and Information (SALI) Trust, the project is a community engagement programme with a long-term vision for educational transformation.

As South Africa continues to grapple with widespread water shortages and service delivery challenges, new research has highlighted systemic challenges in the country’s water governance framework. The study, conducted by Dr Mmaphefo Thwala as part of her PhD at Rhodes University, not only identifies the policy, institutional and operational gaps undermining water resource protection but also offers recommendations to address them.

Rhodes University successfully hosted Career Week 2025 from 14 to 17 April, a dynamic, multi-day event that connected students with potential employers and industry professionals. Designed to prepare students for life after graduation, the initiative provided valuable opportunities to engage directly with recruiters, explore diverse career paths, and gain insight into the professional world. Held at Eden Grove and the Steve Biko Lawns, Career Week featured three themed career fairs—focusing on Computer Science, Accounting, and General Careers—and concluded with an engaging and interactive Career Fun Day.

Rhodes University alumnus and current Master's student Lazarus Kgageng has officially published his debut novel, The Chords of a Hymn, a searing fictional narrative that confronts themes of gender-based violence (GBV), queer identity, parental expectations, and survival. The book was published on 30th March 2025 and is ready to ignite essential conversations around trauma, identity, and healing.

The Society for Freshwater Science (SFS) announced it will present its 2025 Career Award for Environmental Stewardship to Professor Nelson Odume, the Director of the Institute for Water Research (IWR) at Rhodes University.

Following years of sustained water challenges that at times threatened the academic project and the sustainability of the University, Rhodes University is making significant progress in its efforts to reduce reliance on municipal water supply and ensure long-term water security on its campus.

The #RUGrad2025 ceremonies at Rhodes University were a vibrant celebration of academic achievement and a resounding affirmation of the institution's guiding principle: Where Leaders Learn. Notably, this year's graduation recognised 23 accomplished former and current Student Representative Council (SRC) members spanning several years. Their graduation illustrates the University's ability to foster young leaders who succeed in their academic pursuits and make significant contributions beyond the lecture hall.

This graduation season, 2,063 students received their qualifications from Rhodes University. Among them, 107 came through targeted access pathways supported by GADRA Education, the Rhodes University Bridging Programme, and the 9/10ths mentoring initiative. That is 5.2% of this year’s graduating class—one in every nineteen students—who began their academic journey not through conventional routes but through community-rooted partnerships that are changing what access to higher education looks like in Makhanda.

Rhodes University doctoral student Victoria da Graça Gilberto Samboco has been awarded the 2024 African Astronomical Society (AfAS) MSc Prize, a prestigious honour recognising her exceptional contributions to the field of radio astronomy. The award was announced during the AfAS General Assembly and Conference.

Dr Tracy Kitchen’s doctoral journey stands as a testament to resilience, adaptability, and a deep commitment to equality and equity in education. Balancing the challenging roles of academics, mothers, and wives, she has emerged not only with a PhD in hand but with a research project that holds real promise for addressing South Africa’s literacy crisis.

Sinomhlobo Ndlela’s journey to graduation was anything but straightforward. From being forced to take a gap year due to financial constraints to emerging as a respected leader, athlete, artist, and educator, her story reflects the essence of Rhodes University’s ethos: “Where leaders learn.”

A recent report from the Fourth Edition of the 2030 Reading Panel shows only 32% of teachers currently demonstrate high levels of mathematics proficiency. Coupled with recent reports showing South African learner maths proficiency being amongst the lowest in the world.

In a country battling a literacy crisis, Makhanda is witnessing an exceptional spike in literacy rates.

In what has been a remarkable run since the first installation last year, another Transient Array Radio Telescope (TART) instrument has been deployed in an African Square Kilometre Array (SKA) partner nation – this time, Botswana.

Some events tick boxes, and then some remind you why community matters and why we come together, celebrate, and keep going. The Postgraduate International Graduation Ball, held on the evening of Friday, 5 April 2025, was the latter.

For Tina Sisanda Bikitsha, graduating with a Master’s degree in Journalism and Media Studies from Rhodes University is not simply an academic achievement but a triumph of love and resilience. As a mother to a non-verbal 10-year-old child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Tina’s research journey was highly personal, filled with moments of both emotional anguish and hope.

On the 2nd of April 2025, sisters Dr Alyssa Shawntay Williams and Loryn Michelle Williams once again shared the Rhodes University graduation stage, sharing another defining milestone. This time, Alyssa hooded her younger sister while wearing the distinguished red gown of a doctoral graduate.

Ripfumelo Pascalia Chauke’s graduation from Rhodes University is more than a personal accomplishment, it is a symbol of hope for her community in Soweto and beyond. The first in her family to obtain a university degree, she has defied the odds, opposed expectations, and inspired many with her story.

Rhodes University’s Centre for Postgraduate Studies (CPGS) has secured £30 000 from the British Council to offer publication support for emerging researchers.

Physics Professor and Head of the Department of Physics and Electronics at Rhodes University Makaiko Chithambo has been elected a Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences (AAS), marking a major recognition of his contribution to physics on the continent.

After years of distinguished service, Justice Lex Mpati is retiring as the Chancellor of Rhodes University, leaving behind a legacy of integrity, transformation, and unwavering commitment to justice. Appointed in February 2013, he became the first former student of the University to hold the position. Throughout his tenure, Justice Mpati championed inclusivity and excellence, embodying the institution's values and inspiring future generations. His tenure has been marked by a dedication to academic excellence, social responsibility, and a deep belief in the power of education to change lives.

Rhodes University’s Autumn Graduation Week was not just a celebration of academic achievement but a tribute to the resilience, dedication, and success of its broader community – including students, staff, and families. Among those who crossed the stage were SRC members and colleagues whose perseverance was celebrated with great institutional pride. The week was filled with stories of triumph and inspiration.

Against a backdrop of social and economic inequality, Rhodes University's 2025 Autumn Graduation Week marked a celebration of resilience, grit, and achievement. A total of 2,062 graduates crossed the stage—each story a testament to perseverance in the face of adversity.

As Rhodes University celebrates its Autumn Graduation, Chancellor Justice Lex Mpati is bowing out from the role he has assumed for the past 12 years. Justice Mpati, the first former Rhodes University student to become Chancellor and second Black student to graduate with an LLB from the University, championed judicial integrity, education, and transformation. His tenure as Chancellor marks an era of profound impact.

Rhodes University welcomed its alumna, Minister of Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube, on the 31st of March 2025 for a visit aimed at discussing key education initiatives and engaging with students. The event, which took place at the Big Lecture Theatre in the Faculty of Education, underscored the University’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with national education authorities.

In an intimate and profoundly symbolic ceremony, Rhodes University formally robed Dr Nontsikelelo (Ntsiki) Biko with the academic gown befitting her Honorary Doctorate of Laws (LLD) (honoris causa), conferred during the University’s virtual graduation in 2021. The robing, delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, occurred at the Steve Biko Centre in Ginsberg.

“Today I would like to salute you, Sisi Ntsiki, for being a woman that you have been to all of us. A woman of integrity. You lived an exemplary life and you became a role model for all of us. I know some of us will never do, in our lifetime, even half of what you have done for your people.” - Sibongile Qaba, 2021

In Psalm 118, verse 24, the psalmist reminds us that this is the day that the LORD has made and that we should rejoice and be glad in it.

I would like to thank Rhodes University for the honour it has bestowed upon me through the award of an Honorary Doctor of Laws. I was told that this is in recognition of my contribution as a dedicated community activist and for devoting my life to the upliftment of the poor and marginalised.

As the new academic year begins, students embark on their undergraduate and postgraduate studies, while early-career academics consider their next steps in research and professional development. To support them on this journey, Rhodes University hosted a two-day engagement event, led by Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation, and Strategic Partnerships, Dr. Kwezi Mzilikazi, alongside Honorary Professor Stephanie Burton and Dr. Mandy Hlengwa. The event provided a blend of strategic insights, practical guidance, and hands-on training to help participants strengthen their academic careers.

The Rhodes University Theatre came alive on the 20th of March with a bold and innovative fusion of theatre and lived student experience in a production titled RU Game. Presented by the Rhodes University Drama Department in collaboration with the Division of Student Services and Development, the performance offered a thought-provoking and immersive simulation that mirrored the realities of university life — all through the powerful medium of performance.

Several past and present students can attest that being part of the Law Faculty is undoubtedly a rigorous journey, but it is also gratifying and filled with growth. Despite the rainy weather, the Rhodes University Law Faculty still managed to host its annual "Market Day" on Friday, 14th March. The gazebo was packed to the brim, alive with the energy of young, ambitious minds eager as ever. St Peter's Lawn offered a scenic landscape bustling with students taking every opportunity to network with potential employers, mingle with their peers, and get a taste of what their futures would look like.

Getting into university is a critical and often difficult transition; hence, Rhodes University is committed to supporting those starting with the help they need to successfully transition to this new stage of their life. The Pathways to Success – Conversations with First-Year Students program under Professor ‘Mabokang Monnapula-Mapesela, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs, is a key program to bring to their studies and life the resources they will require to succeed.

Rhodes University hosted its annual Commerce Extended Studies Programme (CESP) welcome function at the Amazwi Literary Museum on the 11th of March 2025 in collaboration with Investec. The event warmly welcomed first-year students, introducing them to Investec's invaluable support throughout their academic journey.

The Peer Educators programme at Rhodes University is an initiative dedicated to student well-being, leadership development, and social impact. Established under Higher Health in collaboration with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), this initiative empowers students to support their peers in navigating various challenges, including mental health, sexual and reproductive health, LGBTQIA+ rights, and gender diversity. The programme has become integral to student life by fostering a sense of community and responsibility.

The RU Water Wonders was a team of dedicated students from Rhodes University who participated in the 7th edition of the Water4Future Student Hackathon, organised by the UNESCO International Centre on Freshwater (ICIREWARD) in Montpellier.

Rhodes University is set to host its Autumn Graduation between 2 and 4 April 2025, a momentous occasion honouring the achievements of its graduates while recognising four distinguished individuals with honorary doctorates. Adding to the significance of this year’s ceremony, the University bids farewell to its esteemed Chancellor, Justice Lex Mpati, after more than a decade of inspiring students and young graduates through transformative leadership.

Associate Professor in Political and International Studies at Rhodes University, Siphokazi Magadla has been named a joint winner of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) Humanities Book Award in the Established Scholar category, marking the fourth accolade for her acclaimed book, Guerrillas and Combative Mothers: Women and the Armed Struggle in South Africa.

On the 11th of March, Distinguished Professor Tebello Nyokong was honoured at Diocesan School for Girls (DSG) in Makhanda through a tree planting ceremony, an annual tradition recognising individuals who have significantly impacted education and the community. Observed on International Women's Day, the ceremony inspires the learners at DSG as it acknowledges the inspirational women who are influencing their world.

When South Africa’s MeerKAT radio telescope was switched on in 2018, it cemented itself as one of the world’s most powerful astronomical instruments, capable of uncovering deep cosmic mysteries. Behind its success is a network of engineers and astronomers who worked tirelessly to fine-tune its performance. Among them is Dr Benjamin Hugo, a key player in the commissioning and science verification of MeerKAT and one of the country’s leading experts on its use.

“Africa hasn’t mattered,” declared Wits academic, Dr Westen Kwatemba Shilaho during a thought-provoking seminar hosted by the Department of Political and International Studies at Rhodes University.

On Wednesday, 26 February 2025, Rhodes University’s School of Languages & Literatures and the Political & International Studies department hosted the launch of Izimpabanga Zomhlaba (The Wretched of the Earth), Frantz Fanon’s seminal work translated into isiZulu by Dr Makhosazana Xaba. Dr Xaba received an honorary doctorate from Rhodes University in 2022.

In a rare moment of coming full circle, Rhodes University will honour Mrs. Nontsikelelo (Ntsiki) Biko by robing her at the Steve Biko Centre in Ginsberg in the Eastern Cape on Thursday, 27 March 2025.

Curated by Fine Art Painting lecturer and Fine Art Practice 3 course coordinator Robyn Munnick, the Fine Art Practice 3 exhibition embodies an interdisciplinary culmination and creative collaboration of selected Fine Art Practice 3 student work of 2024. The show offers individual perspectives on conceptual themes such as chaos, order, time, space, cultural identity, familial ideology, world-building, belonging, and ways of seeing, all while exploring the technical facilities of printmaking, digital art, photography, painting, sculpture, and installation.

Rhodes University has once again made its mark globally—this time through its involvement in supporting the delivery of the global media hub for the prestigious 2025 Invictus Games, held in Vancouver and Whistler, Canada, from 8 to 16 February. Although the University’s contribution was remote, its impact remains significant.

The MEQOQO Playback Theatre Collective recently hosted Mammatli Thakhuli-Nzuza, a representative of the South African Playback Theatre Association (SAPTA), for a weekend-long training session in Makhanda. The workshop focused on Playback Theatre techniques and was attended by members of MEQOQO as well as the 14-member cast of the 2025 Orientation Theatre Initiative (OTI), all of whom are Honours students.

New York-based investment banker, philanthropist and Board member of the Rhodes University USA Trust, Justine Mannering, has capped off the success of a spectacular year-long Rhodes University’s 120th anniversary in 2024 with a year-end share donation.

Rhodes University strongly condemns the disruptive actions that took place earlier today, instigated by a small group of individuals with thinly veiled anarchic motives. Such actions interfere with the core academic mission of the University and undermine the rights of students and staff to learn and work in a stable, safe and conducive environment.

Rhodes University’s Community Engagement (RUCE) Office hosted a welcome cocktail event for first-year mentees of the Nine-Tenths programme, marking a major milestone in the University’s efforts to transform education in Makhanda.

A group of researchers from the Rhodes University Centre for Radio Astronomy Techniques and Technologies (RATT), in partnership with collaborators from the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO), Observatoire Paris Meudon, the Breakthrough Listen Initiative, the University of Oxford, the University of Cape Town, and other institutions, have established a project to mine the MeerKAT telescope’s archive for previously overlooked transient radio sources. Their first two finds are being published by Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Africa’s population is growing. This means more landscape change and development of supporting infrastructure. Ecosystems are under pressure, made worse by natural disasters induced by climate change.

Mosquitoes are a universal nuisance – buzzing in our ears, leaving itchy bites, and in some parts of the world, spreading deadly diseases. While stagnant water is well known as a breeding ground for these insects, new research suggests that another culprit may be at play.

The Department of Political and International Studies is delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Rita Abrahamsen as the Nelson Mandela Visiting Professor for the 2025/26 academic year. A distinguished scholar of African politics and international relations, Prof. Abrahamsen brings a wealth of expertise on the political dynamics of the continent.

Rhodes University partnered with Dutch-based company FeedbackFruits towards the end of 2024, and the pilot, funded by a DHET Infrastructure grant, commenced this year.

The Rhodes University Umkhombandlela (Institutional Development Plan 2023-2028) notes the need for strengthened digital pedagogical capability and capacity. Part of this is planned to be achieved through the development of online programmes at postgraduate level.

In a world where education must adapt to technological and societal changes, Rhodes University is taking bold steps to lead the way. PhD candidate in Education, Warda Abrahams, is bringing this mission to life through her research into the effective use of digital technology platforms in pre-service teacher training.

When apartheid ended in 1994, South Africa underwent significant social and political transformation. A key aspect of this shift was the push for greater inclusion and representation of Black South Africans across all sectors – including psychology.

The EU-funded Enhancing Doctoral Education (EDE) project was recently launched at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (Stias) during a workshop held from 22 to 24 January.

In 2015, Rhodes University's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sizwe Mabizela, promised the community to revitalise public education in Makhanda. This commitment marked a significant turning point in the University's relationship with the local community. By acknowledging that the university is "of and for this town," Professor Mabizela reaffirmed Rhodes University's dedication to improving the lives of Makhanda's residents.

PhD student Botlhale Modisaotsile is striving to boost the local economy by addressing agricultural pests. His research focuses on combating the cassava mealybug, a small yet devastating insect endangering one of Africa's key staple crops.

Sithembele Isaac Xhegwana, a PhD student at Rhodes University’s Critical Studies in Sexualities and Reproduction (CSSR), has been recognised with two respected literary awards. With academic qualifications including a BSocSci (Honours) in Sociology and an MA in English (Creative Writing) from the University of Cape Town, Xhegwana exemplifies the fusion of rigorous scholarship and artistic creativity. His recent accolades, particularly for his poetry collection Dark Lines of History, reflect the profound impact of his work on South Africa’s literary and cultural landscape.

Towards the end of 2024, Rhodes University student Bridget Mtetwa, a Pharmacy Masters student, achieved a significant milestone at the 2024 EDHE Entrepreneurship Intervarsity Competition. Bridget secured 2nd place in the Social Impact category, earning national recognition for her innovative business, Bridget’s Learning Hub.

At just 19 years old, Amanda Luthuli from Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, embodies determination and resilience. Raised in a family deeply rooted in cultural and religious values, she carries with her the wisdom of her mother’s words: “Yonk’ into oyenzayo uzenzela wena”—“Whatever you do, do it for yourself.” This guiding mantra has shaped Amanda’s outlook on life, fostering a sense of responsibility and a commitment to forging her own path.

A typical student wants a university degree as a ticket to a salary. For this young person, education is a journey towards “having”. And the way to complete the journey is mainly to remember, repeat or reproduce what the teacher says and does.

It’s clear from our findings that forever chemical contamination, while under-reported compared to industrialised countries, is a widespread, pressing environmental issue on the continent.

Rhodes University is ending the year on a celebratory note as Dr Boudina McConnachie, Head of the Department of Music and Musicology at Rhodes University, has been honoured with the prestigious National University Teaching Award (NUTA) for 2024. This accolade recognises her exceptional contributions to music education and her innovative approaches to integrating indigenous African musical arts into academic curricula.

Rhodes University hosted its much-anticipated Teaching and Learning Showcase on 21 November 2024 under the theme "Transformative Pedagogies in Changing Times." The event, organised by the Centre for Higher Education Research, Teaching and Learning (CHERTL), brought lecturers, researchers and students together to explore transformative teaching methods and share ideas for adapting to the ever-changing educational environment.

On 20 November 2024, Rhodes University marked its 120th anniversary celebrations with a prestigious Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner. The event honoured alumni who have made exceptional contributions across various fields and reaffirmed the University’s legacy of producing leaders and innovators.

The rich musical heritage of Keiskammahoek has been preserved and made accessible through a collaborative cataloguing project, led by the International Library of African Music (ILAM) at Rhodes University. This initiative is the first in South Africa to catalogue a collection in isiXhosa and English, highlighting a significant step towards inclusive and representative music heritage preservation.

Final-year law student Oyama Mzayidume has been awarded the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship for 2025. She was selected from 22 finalists drawn from the highest number of applications in eight years, received in 2024 by the selection committee from the combined Eastern Cape and Free State region.

Rhodes University has achieved a significant milestone with the upgrading, in October, of Professor Janice Limson’s South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) Chair in Biotechnology Innovation and Engagement.

Distinguished Professor Heila Lotz-Sisitka, a leading figure in environmental education, was recently awarded the 2024 SAERA Research Honours Award by the South African Education Research Association (SAERA), at their annual conference in Bloemfontein.

Rhodes University, located in Makhanda, South Africa, is committed to academic excellence, research innovation, and community engagement. With a rich history dating back to 1904, the university has established itself as a leading institution of higher learning, producing graduates who make a positive impact in their chosen fields.

Both Rhodes University and the South African Journal of Science celebrate their 120th anniversary in 2024, marking their significant contributions to the scholarly community. Questions about who is involved in scientific research, and who the research is for, come into sharp focus as South Africa also celebrates its 30th year of democracy.

Rhodes University staff and first-year students gathered at the Eden Grove Red Lecture Theatre for the final session of the Pathways to Success: Conversations with First-Year Students series. This four-part series, an integral component of the Rhodes University First-Year Extended Orientation (RUFYE) Programme, was established by Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic and Student Affairs, Professor Monnapula-Mapesela, to bridge the gap between high school and university for first-year students.

At the 2024 LIASA Conference, Rhodes University Librarians Ms. Silindile Dube and Ms. Lucky Mosia-Xaba received the esteemed Best Lightning Talk Award for their presentation titled "Enhancing Children’s Reading Literacy through Classroom Libraries: Siyafundisana eMakhanda Project Initiative by Rhodes University Librarians".

Dr Pakiso Tondi, Director of Student Services and Development at Rhodes University, has been honoured with the 2024 Presidency Lifetime Award by the South African Association of Senior Student Affairs Professionals (SAASSAP). This prestigious award recognises Dr Tondi's substantial contributions to higher education and the Student Affairs and Services (SAS) sector in South Africa. He received the Award together with the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of UNISA, Prof Puleng LenkaBula.

In the vibrant tapestry of emerging artists, 26-year-old local artist Lithemba Nziweni stands out with a unique voice that connects deeply with his cultural roots and the broader socio-political context of the Global South. His ongoing photography series, Hairitage, has recently achieved an academic milestone by being integrated into the curriculum at Rhodes University. This marks a significant step in the recognition of his work and also reflects the University’s commitment to fostering academic discourse around art that emerges from the Global South. The inclusion of Hairitage in the Art History and Visual Culture module, specifically in the "Photography of the Global South" course, underscores both its artistic merit and its cultural resonance.

On 10 September 2024, the President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, signed a proclamation empowering the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate allegations of serious maladministration and improper and unlawful conduct in the affairs of the Makana Local Municipality.

Ntobeko Promise Songcata, a Rhodes University PhD student, has been awarded the prestigious R700,000 start-up grant from the SAB Foundation. His biotechnology start-up, Pro'land Biotech, co-founded with Charles Arineitwe, was recognised for their innovative invention, PetriCam, at the 2024 Social Innovation and Disability Empowerment Awards. Pro’land Biotech is one of the first spinouts of the recently established Rhodes Enterprises (Pty) Ltd.

At 30 years old, Pearl Qwane’s journey is a testament to perseverance, resilience, and a deep-rooted passion for making a difference in healthcare. Born and raised in Tsomo, a small town, Pearl’s upbringing in a close-knit rural community shaped her values and ignited her desire to uplift others.

The School of Journalism and Media Studies at Rhodes University, in collaboration with the South African National Editors' Forum (SANEF), introduced the Makhanda Declaration. This significant proclamation aims to rejuvenate the field of journalism in South Africa, aligning with the celebration of SA Media Freedom Day. October 19 marks Media Freedom Day, commemorating Black Wednesday in 1977 when the Apartheid regime banned the World and Sunday World newspapers and imprisoned anti-apartheid journalists.

As part of Rhodes University’s RU120 celebrations, the Old Rhodian Golf Club (established in 1970), under the leadership of Terry Sutherland, organised a Golf Day at Royal Johannesburg to bring alumni together for a noble cause. From a modest 60 participants to an incredible 200, this event aimed at generating third-stream income for the University. saw the awarding of a significant bursary to nineteen-year-old Psychology student Luyolo Nketsheni, who was the Sports Star of the Year 2023 (Awarded by Mfuzo Boxing Camp) and Sportsperson of the Year 2023 (Awarded by Rhodes University). The bursary, which will cover her academic needs for the next three years, represents a milestone in the Golf Club’s commitment to student support.

The Association of Old Rhodians, a vibrant community of Rhodes University alumni, has embarked on an exciting new chapter with the election of Professor Rosa Klein as President and Mr. Qondakele Sompondo as Deputy President. These visionary leaders bring a wealth of experience, passion, and dedication to their roles, and they are poised to shape the future of the Association and foster a more profound connection among its members.

Last week, Rhodes University conferred an honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) degree on South African art activist and educator Dr Michael Barry, acknowledging his tireless efforts to blend art with social justice, education, and community engagement. His work has long inspired a generation of artists, educators, and cultural advocates, making this recognition a fitting tribute.

Rhodes University’s Professor Arthur Mukenge, a distinguished scholar of Francophone African literature, delivered his inaugural lecture titled “Literary Criticism in an African Context: A Francophone African Literature Perspective” on 07 October 2024.

Oghenekaro Nelson Odume is a professor and a director for the Institute for Water Research at Rhodes University. He is a leading researcher in aquatic ecosystems ecology, water quality, and pollution management. His research interests span water quality studies, aquatic ecosystem resilience, and pollutants of emerging concern like plastics and pharmaceuticals. He also focuses on the science-policy-practice interface, water governance, transdisciplinary scholarship, and social-ecological systems research.

August 2024 marked another milestone for African radio astronomy with the successful deployment of another TART (Transient Array Radio Telescope) telescope in Kenya. The installation took place at the Technical University of Kenya (TUK), Nairobi, under the auspices of Rhodes University’s Distinguished Professor Oleg Smirnov, Dr Benjamin Hugo (South African Radio Astronomy Observatory – SARAO – and Rhodes), Mr Rikus Human (Alphawave), Ms Carla Sharpe-Mitchell (SARAO), and a team from TUK and the Kenya Space Agency (KSA). This follows on from a previous TART installation in Mauritius earlier this year.

"Rocklands: On Becoming the First Generation of Black Psychologists in Post-Apartheid South Africa" by Professor Liezille Jean Jacobs offers an essential narrative, blending personal history with professional insight to underscore the challenges Black psychologists face in a transforming South Africa. This narrative reflects Jacobs' triumphs and a broader commentary on the complexities of identity, race, and professional development in Post-Apartheid South Africa. Jacobs' experiences mirror the struggles of many South Africans who had to navigate an educational and professional landscape shaped by the legacies of Apartheid. Yet, her reflections transform the work into something much larger — an exploration of the interplay between personal growth and societal expectations in a profession historically lacking representation for Black individuals.

In an unprecedented development in the institution’s 120 years of research excellence, Rhodes University is set to establish a wholly-owned subsidiary and special-purpose intellectual property commercialisation vehicle to link research innovation and entrepreneurship.

On 26 September 2024, Rhodes University hosted the prestigious Vice-Chancellor's Book Award Lecture, which honoured one of the institution's most distinguished scholars, Associate Professor Siphokazi Magadla, from the Department of Political and International Studies.

Rhodes University Pride Week 2024 is a central highlight of the RU120 celebrations, showcasing its ongoing commitment to inclusivity and equality as it works toward a more diverse and accepting community. As part of this initiative, Rhodes University hosted a special screening of Hold on 25th September 2024 at Eden Grove Red, a poignant and thought-provoking film exploring themes of identity, love, and belonging. Director David Ikpo and Producer Tsheperang Mamaregane were virtually present for a post-screening discussion, where they shared insights into their creative journey, the film's impact, and the critical conversations it has sparked.

Rhodes University is proud to announce that South African art activist and educator, Michael Barry, will be awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) (honoris causa) during the University’s graduation ceremony in Makhanda on 11 October 2024. This prestigious recognition comes as the University celebrates its 120th anniversary, marking more than a century of academic and cultural excellence. Barry's award also coincides with the 50th anniversary of the National Arts Festival, which has solidified Makhanda’s status as South Africa’s Creative City.

The Rhodes University Centre for Postgraduate Studies (CPGS) held an invaluable two-day conference titled Building Bridges: Unleashing the Potential of Scholarship on September 13th and 14th. Hosted across various Barratt Lecture Hall venues, the event provided postgraduate students a platform to present and showcase their research abstracts — from Honours to Postdoctoral. The event also hosted the prestigious 3 Minute Thesis competition (3MT), where the top ten finalists competed for prizes, and the five most outstanding presenters were awarded for their concise and impactful research summaries.

Rhodes University Pride Week 2024 is a significant part of the #RU120 celebrations as it ties the university's 120th anniversary with the ongoing journey toward inclusivity and equality. This year's event, launched with a keynote address by Dr Beverly Ditsie, a renowned LGBTQIA+ activist and acclaimed filmmaker, highlights the intersection of history, activism, and identity in South Africa's broader struggles for human rights.

Continuing to celebrate its 120-year legacy, Rhodes University illustrated its deep commitment to internationalisation and gender equity by sponsoring a unique publication. "Women in Internationalisation" was produced by HERS-SA in association with Rhodes University, which generously sponsored its layout.

Rhodes University’s Division of Student Services and Development (DSSD) proposed the creation of the Rev Dr Simon Gqubule Student Leadership Award in collaboration with the Gqubule Family, the Methodist Church of Southern Africa (MCSA), and critical leaders supporting student leadership. The award was launched at the Rev Dr Simon Gqubule Memorial Lecture during the annual Leadership Week organised by the Student Representative Council (SRC), where Dr. Mamphela Ramphele delivered an Annual Lecture.

The Rhodes University Chamber Choir (RUCC) recently completed a memorable tour of the Western Cape, blending performances, workshops, and collaborations with schools and community choirs along the way. As part of Rhodes University’s RU120 campaign, the tour showcased the power of music to connect people, build relationships, and inspire future generations.

Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sizwe Mabizela, announced the 2024 recipients of the coveted Distinguished Alumni Award at the Annual General Meeting of Convocation on Saturday, 06 September 2024. These individuals have significantly contributed to their respective fields and upheld the university’s academic excellence and leadership legacy.

Rhodes University’s Snelihle Maphumulo, a 4th-year Bachelor of Fine Arts Sculpture student, has achieved a significant career milestone by receiving a Merit Award at the highly competitive Sasol New Signatures Art Competition. This annual competition, recognised as one of the premier platforms for emerging South African artists, provides young talent the chance to gain national exposure and be recognised in the broader art industry. Maphumulo’s achievement is a testament to her unique artistic voice and ability to tackle deeply personal themes through innovative materials.

Rhodes University proudly announces that Sbusiso Njeza, a highly respected composer, choral conductor, and Rhodes University lecturer, has been nominated in the prestigious KORA All Africa Music Awards. The KORA Awards, often called the “African Grammys,” have been recognising and celebrating African musical talent since 1994.

On the 3rd of September 2024, the Steve Biko Lawns at Rhodes University were filled with respect and nostalgia as Rhodes University held its Arbor Day Tree Planting Ceremony. This year's event was more than a simple celebration of nature but a heartfelt tribute to the university's retirees. These individuals have devoted decades of their lives to the growth and success of the institution.

The Rhodes University community is mourning the passing of one of its honorary doctorate recipients, James Matthews. The internationally acclaimed South African poet, author, and dissident voice against Apartheid, passed away at the age of 95. His impact on South African literature and society is immeasurable. A lifelong advocate for freedom, he lived his life in the pursuit and expression of personal and political liberation, using his writing as a vehicle for justice, reflection, and transformation.

Rhodes University Division of Student Services & Development is hosting Disability Week 2024 under the theme "I Am Not My Disability - See My Ability." This week-long event aims to promote awareness, accessibility, and inclusivity for individuals with disabilities within the university community.

[Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, Tuesday, 3 September 2024] A significant meteorite fall in South Africa's Eastern Cape Province on Sunday, 25 August 2024, which sparked a collaborative scientific investigation involving several leading universities. The event, witnessed by residents across a vast area, has led to the recovery of a rare meteorite fragment, provisionally named the "Nqweba Meteorite" after the nearby town of its discovery.

Jay Pillay’s journey to becoming the first woman President-Elect of the ACUHO-I SAC Executive Board is a compelling story of strategic leadership and a deep commitment to advancing higher education in South Africa. Her election to this prestigious role highlights her exceptional abilities and underscores her dedication to creating inclusive, supportive environments and mentoring the next generation of leaders. As a finalist at the HERS-SA Higher Education Women Leaders Awards, Pillay’s journey is one of breaking barriers in her professional career and the broader educational landscape.

In the realm of South African higher education, Professor ‘Mabokang Monnapula-Mapesela stands as a beacon of transformative leadership and resilience. As the first Black woman Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs working in a University celebrating its 120th anniversary, her journey is a testament to the power of education as a tool for personal and collective transformation. Her story is not just one of individual achievement but a narrative deeply intertwined with Black women's broader struggles and triumphs in academia.

Rhodes University will temporarily suspend part of its academic programme, including formal undergraduate lectures, tutorials, and practicals, on Friday, 30 August 2024, amid severe disruptions to its municipal water supply.

Earlier this month, the Rhodes University School of Languages and Literature hosted the book launch of Jonas Ntsiko: Hadi Waseluhlangeni Collected Writings (1873-1916). This event marked the release of Volume 9 of the Opland Collection of Xhosa Literature, a series of books collaboratively edited and translated by Professors Jeff Opland and Pamela Maseko. Professor Pamela Maseko, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at Nelson Mandela University, Visiting Professor and former academic at Rhodes University. Maseko was also the keynote speaker at the book launch.

Earlier this month, Rhodes University hosted the 2023 Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Senior Research Award Lecture, which recognises exceptional research contributions within the University. This award was presented to Professor Julie Coetzee from the Faculty of Science, a distinguished scholar who has made significant strides in the field of biological control, particularly in understanding the interactions between freshwater aquatic plants and insects.

Rhodes University mourns the passing of education giant, alumnus, and Order of the Baobab recipient, Dr William Smith.

On 6 August 2024, Retired Judge of Appeal Azhar Cachalia delivered a compelling public lecture at Rhodes University, where he criticised Parliament's questionable decision to appoint individuals with known unethical conduct to serve on the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

We are pleased to announce that SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter will deliver the keynote address at the 10th Archbishop Thabo Makgoba Development Trust Annual Lecture on Values-Based Leadership. The event is set to take place on Monday, 26 August 2024, at 18h00 at Eden Grove Red, Rhodes University.

Rhodes University recently participated in an institutional audit conducted by the Council on Higher Education (CHE), and while the report highlighted both the strengths and areas for improvement, Rhodes University showed commendable results overall.

Rhodes University recently celebrated a historic milestone with the inauguration of its 2025 Students' Representative Council (SRC). This year's elections and the subsequent inauguration were marked by unprecedented student engagement, a record-breaking voter turnout, and a commitment to inclusivity that reflects the university's core values.

The recent #RURises GBV Workshop hosted by the Office of Equity & Institutional Culture in collaboration with Not In My Name International highlighted the intricate and essential process of unlearning as a cornerstone for effective leadership and community transformation. Addressing gender-based violence (GBV) requires a multifaceted approach that challenges not only existing behaviours but also redefines societal norms, particularly around masculinity.

Dr Ashley Westaway, a prominent South African education and community development champion, has been nominated to the Rhodes University Council.

Rhodes University has recently embarked on several ambitious entrepreneurship projects with the aim of not only up-skilling students but uplifting the Makana community and economy. These have culminated in the preparation of a Centre for Entrepreneurship and Incubation, funded by SEDA, which will be housed within the Student Hub, Steve Biko Building.

Distinguished Professor Charlie Shackleton, holder of the SARChI Chair in Interdisciplinary Science in Land and Natural Resource Use for Sustainable Livelihoods at Rhodes University, has been awarded the prestigious A1 National Research Foundation (NRF) rating, the highest in the South African national system of research innovation.

‘Ubuntu’ is often used to describe a sense of shared responsibility and humanity, perhaps even virtues that underpin shared development. But when Rhodes University officially launched the Masakhe Enterprise and Supplier Development Programme (MESDP) recently, it was clear that Ubuntu is a lived experience grounded in vision.

In her plenary talk at the South African Institute of Physics (SAIP) Conference held at Rhodes University, Department of Physics & Electronics last month, Professor Raesibe Sylvia Ledwaba highlighted the importance of mentorship, advocacy, and support networks as key elements in empowering women to embrace physics as a career path in their lives.

Rhodes University recently honoured Dr Boudina McConnachie with the Vice Chancellor's Distinguished Teaching Award (2023). This accolade, awarded annually to educators with fewer than ten years of teaching experience, recognises exceptional contributions to teaching excellence, innovation, and dedication.

After a riveting few months of preparation and build up, the final round of the Makhanda isiXhosa Spelling Bee took place in the last week. Nine eager Grade 3 learners were seated on the stage with their first-year student mentor behind them for comfort and support.

Rhodes University Council has welcomed a clean audit with no findings for the 2023 financial year. The results further extend the institution’s established impeccable financial performance and stewardship record.

One of Rhodes University’s #RU120 Big 5 focus areas is Transformation & Leadership. As such, the University is committed to fostering a safer, more inclusive environment. Since 2016, we have undertaken substantial reforms, including revising our GBV processes and policies, fortifying our collaboration with law enforcement, and empowering our staff and students through workshops and dialogues.

ChatGPT has dominated news headlines since the release of ChatGPT 3.5 in November 2022 and has been followed by an explosion of GenAI tools and services. These AI tools and services will likely grow and continue to develop new capabilities in the future. How can the academic community stay up-to-date about the latest developments and be supported to leverage AI for academic purposes?

Applied statistician and author of the best-seller “Elements of Statistical Learning”, Professor Trevor Hastie, has donated $5000 to Rhodes University, bringing the combined donations from North America and the United Kingdom to over R1.5 million in seven months.

Twenty-year-old Bachelor of Social Sciences student Thabisile Msenga became the first recipient of a R135,500 (CAD$10,000) allocation from a newly inaugurated scholarship fund established in an agreement between Rhodes University and Myriad Canada. The fund currently has a total value of R680,000 (CAD$50,400) over four years.

With the #RU120 anniversary year in full swing, Rhodes University’s resource mobilisation efforts are set to receive an energising shot in the arm with the restoration of the prestigious Neilen Locke coaching award.

The #RU120 Sports Festival, scheduled for 9-10 August 2024, expects participation from Nelson Mandela University, Walter Sisulu University, East Cape Midlands TVET College, and local sports clubs and institutions outside the Eastern Cape. Key events from this festival will be streamed online, ensuring the festival's excitement reaches a global audience.

In a shared plenary session at the 68th conference of the South African Institute of Physics (SAIP), Head of Rhodes University’s Department of Physics and Electronics Professor Makaiko Chithambo and Visiting Adjunct Professor in Flow Physics at the University of the Witwatersrand Professor Igle Gledhill speculated on what might be accomplished by the year 2124. The talk served as an intellectual time capsule for future physicists to look over and “possibly laugh at our ignorance” as Professor Chithambo joked.

At 22, Zozibini Mali stands as a testament to resilience and determination. A third-year BCom Accounting student at Rhodes University, his journey is one of perseverance against the odds. Raised in Bhisho by his grandmother and mother, Zozibini grew up without a father figure, navigating his formative years in a challenging environment. From a young age, he attended a boys' school, where he balanced the influence of the strong matriarchs in his life with the values of independence and self-reliance instilled at school. This unique blend of influences has moulded him into the resilient and driven man he is today.

Rhodes University and the Canon Collins Trust have announced a landmark partnership to increase educational opportunities for Southern African postgraduate students. This collaboration represents a significant step forward in fostering academic excellence and providing vital support to these students, marking a pivotal moment in the advancement of higher education in the region.

"It should not be, and it cannot be that an academically deserving young person will be deprived of an opportunity to receive quality and transformative education simply because they happened to have been born into a family of limited means,” said Rhodes University Vice Chancellor, Prof Sizwe Mabizela.

On the evening of 16 July 2024, Rhodes University celebrated the dedication of 64 staff members at a Long-Service Awards ceremony, recognising their collective 1,495 years of service. Among the honourees was Vice-Chancellor Professor Sizwe Mabizela, who proudly marked his 20th year at the University. This milestone coincided with Rhodes University’s 120th anniversary (RU120), adding special significance to the evening.

Every year, the historic town of Makhanda (Grahamstown) comes alive with the vibrancy and creativity of the National Arts Festival, attracting visitors from all corners of the globe. Amid this bustling celebration, Rhodes University hosts a special cocktail event, bringing together its alumni, fondly known as Old Rhodians, along with friends and supporters of the institution. This year’s gathering, however, held an extra layer of significance as it marked two monumental anniversaries: Rhodes University continuing its celebration of its 120th year and the National Arts Festival its 50th. This convergence of milestones provided a unique opportunity to reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and envision a future of sustained excellence and mutual support.

From 6-7 July 2024, Rhodes University hosted the inaugural Young Leaders Bootcamp, a transformative engagement that sought to empower the next generation of leaders. This two-day programme brought together Makhanda High School student leaders and the Rhodes University Student Representative Council (SRC) to participate in a programme designed to reflect on ethical leadership and community engagement.

As part of celebrating its bidecacentennial anniversary year of academic excellence, Rhodes University hosted the international Higher Education Close-Up 11 (HECU11) conference from 3 to 5 July last week.

As Rhodes University marks its 120th anniversary, the Department of Music and Musicology proudly presents a series of tribute concerts on 13 July 2024. These concerts celebrate "firsts," highlighting the university's pioneering role in shaping South African music and its ongoing legacy of excellence and innovation. This special event will honour the ground-breaking contributions of two distinguished composers, Dr Bongani Ndodana-Breen and Dr Paul Hanmer, whose works have set significant musical precedents.

A new research laboratory, the Electromagnetics Innovation (EMI) lab, was opened last week at the Centre for Radio Astronomy Techniques and Technologies (RATT), Department of Physics and Electronics at Rhodes University by Rhodes University’s Dean of Science, Professor Joanna Dames.

On Friday, 5 July 2024, the SAIP2024 conference concluded with a grand Gala dinner held at the Nelson Mandela Dining Hall, Rhodes University. The evening was marked by a series of inspiring speeches and the celebration of excellence within the physics community.

The 68th Annual Conference of the South African Institute of Physics (SAIP) was held at Rhodes University between 1-5 July 2024, and brought together students, professionals, educators, and government officials.

Thank you for the honour and privilege of being part of this important young leaders bootcamp – an opportunity to engage young leaders of our city on leadership issues. Seeing so many of you this morning inspires me with great hope and optimism that our future is bright with promise. You, our country's youth, will help us create a better society and world.

Rhodes University is hosting the Young Leaders Bootcamp at Eden Grove on 6-7 July 2024, featuring Allan Magubane as the keynote speaker. Magubane, born in 1989 in Estcourt, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, has contributed to education and corporate consultancy, focusing on leadership ethics, strategy, and diversity.

Rhodes University is taking the next step in its transformative involvement in the broader education sector in Makhanda through a trailblazing bootcamp for school leaders, aimed at cultivating ethical leadership.

As South Africa marks 30 years of democracy, Rhodes University celebrates its 120th anniversary, and the National Arts Festival reaches its 50th year, Mr Thumamna Sibhozo, in collaboration with the Isikhumbuzo Applied History Unit from the History Department at Rhodes University, presented a play that depicts South Africa's past and present - called “Madam President Evelyn”.

The Rhodes University Sports Department is proud to announce that it will host the 2024 USSA Rugby Tournament from 1 – 5 July 2024. This prestigious event will gather twenty-six universities from across South Africa, promising a diverse and competitive field of teams for an exciting week of competitive matches, camaraderie, and celebration.

Alice is a sculpture of body casts taken off an elderly lady who lived in the Brookshaw home in Makhanda. It is one of the artworks Christine Maree made for her Masters in Fine Art exhibition, completed in 2008 under the current HOD of Fine Arts Maureen de Jager's supervision. She later taught Sculpture in 2009 as de Jager’s sabbatical leave replacement.

During her second year at Rhodes University in 2020, Lethabo Makweya’s journey through the National Arts Festival (NAF) began. Music composer Stacey van Schalkwyk Naidoo was searching for a talented writer and performer. Lalu Mokuku, a supervisor and Drama lecturer at Rhodes University who formed MEQOQO Playback Theatre Collective, recommended Makweya. The excitement was palpable, but the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic led to the festival's cancellation that year, forcing plans to be postponed.

As we mark 120 years of academic excellence, we reflect on the rich tapestry of history and transformation that defines Rhodes University and its decades of artistic contributions to the arts. Rhodes University is proud to announce a series of performances and exhibits as part of the official National Art Festival (NAF) programme, which marks its 50th anniversary, between 20 and 30 June 2024 in Makhanda.

Bioinformatics, though relatively new compared to biochemistry and microbiology, is revolutionising the analysis of large biological datasets using cutting-edge computer technology. To honour its importance, Rhodes University has renamed its Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology to include Bioinformatics.

As the semester ends, we bid farewell to our semester-abroad students from Boston College, Hobart and William Smith Colleges (HWS), and Pädagogische Hochschule Bern (PH Bern).

On the 4th of June 2024, Rhodes University warmly welcomed a cohort of aspiring scholars from St. Andrews College and The Diocesan School for Girls (DSG) for a day brimming with discovery and engagement. This event stood as a testament to Rhodes University's enduring dedication to forging meaningful partnerships with neighbouring schools and its unwavering commitment to expanding access to higher education.

Njengoko iYunivesithi iRhodes iqhuba umbhiyozo wayo weminyaka engama-120 (obizwa ngokuba yi-RU120), omnye umamkeli wesidanga sokunika imbeko sobuGqirhalwazi kule Yunivesithi, nowayesakuba ngumfundi weendaba ku-SABC nolitshantliziyo kwezenkcubeko uGqirhalwazi uNoxolo Grootboom, uvakalise ilizwi lakhe kwimpumelelo yeli phulo.

[MAKHANDA] As Rhodes University continues the year-long celebration of its 120th anniversary (affectionately referred to as RU120), one of the university’s revered Honorary Doctorate recipients, former SABC newsreader and cultural icon Dr Noxolo Grootboom, has lent her voice to the campaign's success – literally.

This year marks the bidecacentennial celebration of Rhodes University, celebrated through the year-long RU120 campaign. The RUCC is, therefore, heeding the clarion call that the university needs to use every opportunity it has to strengthen its ties with broader societal structures.

The Rhodes University Research Unit in Bioinformatics (RUBi) recently welcomed the Deputy Ambassador of Switzerland, Mr Marino Cuenat, and Programme Officer for Science and Technology, Ms Kgomotso Austin, to campus. Their visit was focused on discussing existing collaborations and exploring future partnerships with Switzerland.

Friday 31 May, the last day of Africa Month coincided with the 120th birthday of Rhodes University. Activities in May included public lectures, seminars, panel discussions, a conference, a colloquium, a book launch, interactive activities with students, a photo shoot celebrating cultural diversity, education campaigns, a postgraduate funding fair; all demonstrating Rhodes University’s continuing commitment to a vibrant intellectual life on campus.

On 20 May 2024, Rhodes University continued its 120th-anniversary celebrations by hosting the first session of its two-day Sustainability Colloquium. This session, titled "Governance and Civil Society: Towards Reduced Inequalities," featured distinguished speakers including Dr Nomakwezi Mzilikazi, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research, Innovation, and Strategic Partnerships; Professor Leticia Greyling from the Rhodes Business School; Mr Alistair McMaster from the Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs, and Tourism; and Advocate Shuaib Rahim from the Rhodes University Law Faculty.

In commemoration of Africa Month, the NRF SARChI Chair for Intellectualisation of African Languages, Multilingualism and Education, in collaboration with the Faculty of Humanities and the Global Engagement Division, organised events from the 13th to the 16th of May 2024. These gatherings aimed to delve into Africa's rich heritage and provoke academic discourse on the continent’s future trajectory.

In a notable advancement for marine sciences, Eritrea’s Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) has initiated a partnership with Rhodes University's Department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science (DIFS). This collaboration aims to develop fisheries education and research across Africa.

On May 20, 2024, Rhodes University's Registrar's Division unveiled a riveting exhibition titled "Registrar's Division: A Glimpse Through the Years" at the Eden Grove Building. This exhibition is a contribution from the Registrar’s Division to Rhodes University's bidecacentennial celebration, popularly known as RU120. The exhibition showcased the Registrar's Division's long-standing existence, achievements, and impact as part of the year-long RU120 celebration, which focuses on past and present excellence, innovation, and community.

April 2024 marked a significant milestone for African radio astronomy with the successful deployment of the first TART (Transient Array Radio Telescope) in Mauritius. The installation took place at the Université des Mascareignes (UdM), Bel Air campus, under the auspices of Rhodes University’s Professor Oleg Smirnov, UdM’s Dr Keshav Sewraj, Dr Max Scheel of the Electronics Research Foundation (New Zealand), and South African Radio Astronomy Observatory’s (SARAO) Dr Nadeem Oozeer.

On 15 May 2024, Rhodes University hosted the 2019 Vice Chancellor's Distinguished Research Award lecture with recipient Professor Makaiko Chithambo, Head of the Department of Physics and Electronics.

On the first day of Rhodes University's 2024 Community Engagement Conference, an afternoon session focused on the evolving role of community engagement in university-society relationships.

Rhodes University is mourning the passing of Mr Kerry Phillip O’Sullivan Swift, aged 74.

In a recent gathering at Rhodes University, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Student and Academic Affairs, Professor 'Mabokang Monnapula-Mapesela, set the stage for an evening dedicated to celebrating community engagement. She emphasised the significance of the Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Community Engagement Award, an accolade honouring impactful collaborations between the university and its surrounding communities in education and research. “The Vice Chancellor’s Distinguished Community Engagement Award is a prestigious and competitive Annual Award that recognises meaningful and committed partnerships between the members of the university and community partners in the areas of teaching, learning, and research, where human and material resources of the university have been combined with assets found in the local communities”.

Karabelo Ramosala, a Counselling Psychologist and Lecturer in the Psychology Department, has been awarded the 2024-2025 Fulbright Visiting Researcher scholarship.

On 14 May 2024, a three-day Community Engagement Conference hosted by Rhodes University kicked off. Attended by scholars worldwide, the conference focuses on the history of community engagement in universities, exploring its milestones and impact while considering further actions to fortify a cohesive community-university-society partnership.

On 9 May 2024, the historic Albany Museum in Makhanda, South Africa hosted a significant event organised by Rhodes University's Political and International Studies Department, along with the School of Journalism and Media Studies and Makhanda Legends. The gathering brought together intellectuals, activists, and community leaders to discuss "The Erosion of Democratic Institutions and the Future of Knowledge."

Concern is palpable at Rhodes University as the institution grapples with escalating student debt. The University is not alone in this struggle. Many others in the country face similar uncertainty following the decision by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to cap funding allowances for students.

In a recent University World News piece entitled ‘THE’ rankings: What happens to universities that leave?, Richard Holmes published an insightful response to an article by Times Higher Education staff which warned that universities refusing to participate in rankings would suffer reputational damage.

On 26 April 2024, Rhodes University students and academic staff gathered at Barratt Theatre Complex for the second in a series of sessions designed to create pathways to success for Rhodes University's first years.

In an effort to foster a sense of belonging and equip students with essential research skills, Rhodes University's Department of Economics recently organised a three-day orientation and research workshop for new Masters and PhD students.

At a recent event hosted by Rhodes University’s Law Faculty on 16 April 2024, Dr Nomalanga Mashinini, a senior lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand specialising in image rights protection, discussed the challenges posed by deepfakes in maintaining electoral integrity.

In a spectacle that underscored its technological ambitions, Rhodes University recently deployed a helicopter to transport delicate scientific instruments to its new, state-of-the-art nanotechnology facility. This operation not only highlighted the sophisticated nature of the Institute for Nanotechnology Innovation (INI) but also marked a significant expansion from its original space in the ChemPharm building due to its substantial growth.

Embarking on a journey to create an institutional RU120 advert that is authentic, sincere, and lives up to the legacy of 120 years of academic excellence is one thing. For Rhodes University to organically unearth in-house gems and powerful stories in the process is quite another.

Going through University without financial support can be stressful, weighing down on many students in this position. To mitigate the impact of the challenge, four members of the 2017 Student Representative Council have heeded the call by Vice-Chancellor Professor Sizwe Mabizela by establishing a scholarship fund.

Rhodes University’s celebration of its 120th anniversary was marked by a significant event on 22 April 2024 – the launch of the EU-funded collaboration project Nature-based Solutions for African Resilience (NbS4AfrRes).

For many students at Rhodes University, Orientation Week was their first time being on campus. For Zola Mbinda, a History lecturer and PhD candidate at Rhodes University, however, university campuses were always home.

In the 1980s, South Africa was cut off from the world politically, through sanctions, and technologically. Yet, from the small town of then Grahamstown, now Makhanda, a team of pioneers managed to send the country’s first email – and Professor Pat Terry, the man who reached the world through this (then) advanced technology, is now part of Rhodes University’s reflective year of celebrations as it marks 120 years in 2024.

As Rhodes University celebrates a 120-year legacy of academic excellence through its #RU120 campaign, its next-generation institutional RU120 commercials have gone live on television, radio, billboards, and online – to name but a few.

“A visionary with a heart to empower others to break through.” That is how Google South Africa Country Director Dr Alistair Mokoena has been described after launching the Alistair Mokoena Education Fund at his alma mater, Rhodes University. The announcement was made at a lively alumni event in Makhanda, in April.

The Rhodes African Studies Centre (RASC) recently launched two key books, namely, Covid-19 in Africa: Social and Economic Implications and Covid-19 in Africa: Governance and Containment, both published by Palgrave.

In the heart of Motherwell, Eastern Cape, Siphiwe-Sami Qoko's journey unfolded amidst the contrasting experiences of a middle-class upbringing and the trials of financial difficulties.

The autumn 2024 graduation ceremonies at Rhodes University were not just a testament to the hard work and dedication of its students, but also a highlight of the University's 120th-anniversary celebrations. Held from 3-5 April 2024, the six ceremonies embodied the spirit of excellence and leadership that Rhodes University is renowned for.

In a landmark achievement for physics, the United Kingdom and Ireland-based Institute of Physics this month published a first-of-its-kind monograph on phototransferred thermoluminescence authored by Rhodes University’s head of Physics, Professor Makaiko Chithambo.

Tsebang Matlapeng, an MSc student in chemistry, emerged as the representative of Rhodes University for the national FameLab SA final.

Rhodes University has proudly announced its decision to bestow upon Mr. Tandabantu Tennyson August the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD). This prestigious accolade is in recognition of his indomitable spirit, resilience, and unwavering commitment to transforming the lives of numerous young individuals in the Eastern Cape. Mr. August’s journey is a beacon of hope and inspiration, reflecting his exceptional ability to lead and foster change against all odds.

For Archbishop Thabo Makgoba’s significant impact on society, Rhodes University will confer upon him the degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD) (honoris causa). This honorary degree is in recognition of Archbishop Makgoba's role as a voice of reason and a conscience of society, where he has been a steadfast advocate against corruption and the abuse of power. His unwavering commitment to justice and ethical leadership has not only made him a respected figure within the Anglican Church but also a revered leader and moral compass in broader societal matters, further cementing his legacy as a champion for integrity, human rights, and social justice in South Africa and beyond.

In a distinguished ceremony, Rhodes University will confer upon Ambassador Barbara Masekela the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD). This accolade is in tribute to her exceptional, enduring contributions as a cultural activist, literary scholar, and an unwavering advocate for social justice, human rights, and dignity.

We are thrilled to announce the upcoming PASMAE (Pan-African Society for Musical Arts Education) Music Conference scheduled from the 25th to the 27th of March in the Beethoven Room, Department of Music and Musicology. This event promises to be a melting pot of musical artistry, educational innovation, and cultural exchange, bringing together some of the most talented musicians, educators, and scholars from across the African continent and beyond.

Rhodes University will proudly award Professor Sylvia Tamale the honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) for her dedicated human rights activism and advocacy for marginalised groups, including women, sex workers and the LGBTQIA+ community.

Professor Irvy Gledhill, affectionately known as "Igle”, will be awarded the esteemed degree of Doctor of Science (DSc) (honoris causa) by Rhodes University, in a resounding acknowledgement of her long and distinguished contributions to the field of physics. This honorary degree is a testament to her extensive research, leadership on both national and international platforms, and her unwavering commitment to human capital development, with a special focus on empowering women in physics.

The Rhodes University UK trust underwent a major strategic shakeup last month following the appointment of Caroline Rowland, an alumna, global communications and marketing guru, and businesswoman, as its chair. The trustees unanimously appointed Ms Rowland in June last year to succeed Mr Geoffrey de Jager, who retired after nearly 30 years as chairman and trustee.

Rhodes University confirms the recipients of its annual Honorary Doctoral degrees for 2024, set to be conferred between Wednesday, 03 April 2024 and Friday, 05 April 2024.

Rhodes University’s RU120 celebrations furthered its impact through the launch of two new ARUA/The Guild Africa-Europe Clusters of Research Excellence (CoREs), which took place on 08 March 2024.

In a rare spotlight on South Africa's ongoing struggle with land reform, Rhodes University’s Law Faculty, as part of the University’s 120th-anniversary celebrations, hosted a public lecture in collaboration with the Black Lawyers Association student charter.

Second-generation Rhodes University alumnus and seasoned investment banker and philanthropist Justine Mannering has joined the Rhodes University USA Trust Board and will work with the Board to oversee the fundraising activities for the landmark RU120 campaign in North America.

Since its inception in 1904, Rhodes University has continually made significant strides in the realm of higher education, carving out a distinguished place for itself among academic institutions globally. Over the years, Rhodes University has evolved, reflecting changes in society, academia, and the broader global landscape, constantly adapting and growing to meet new challenges and opportunities.

Universities in South Africa are facing a challenging balancing act, having to do more, with fewer resources. That’s according to Professor Paul Maylam, who says while access to higher education for students is critical, questions also need to be asked about the viability of taking on large numbers of students, many of whom fail to complete their studies.

At precisely 15h30 on 23 February, 2024, a historic anniversary drone picture was taken as the bright African summer sun smiled down on hundreds of gleeful and cheering students and staff members huddled at the Great Field in a spectacular RU120 formation.

In a remarkable achievement, Professor Siphokazi Magadla from the Department of Political and International Studies at Rhodes University, has been awarded the inaugural Helen Milner Award. This accolade was presented by the Social Science Research Council (SSRC) on 31 January 2024 at its Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa (NextGen) and African Peacebuilding Network (APN) Writing and Dissemination Workshop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and marks a significant recognition of Professor Magadla's dedication and contribution to the field of peace, security, and development in Africa.

On 22 February 2024, Rhodes University's Law Faculty officially began its academic year with a its annual Faculty Opening evening. The event welcomed students, faculty members, and a notable guest, marking the occasion as a significant moment in the faculty’s annual calendar.

Despite inclement weather, the spirit of achievement and community shone brightly at the Nine Tenths Student Mentoring Programme's celebration on 22 February 2024. In partnership with GADRA Education, this celebratory event honoured a record-breaking number of 50 programme alumni first-year students registering at Rhodes University in 2024.

Romesa Muhammad's story is a vivid testament to resilience and hope, set against the rugged beauty of the Eastern Cape's wilderness, where her journey began. Born into a close-knit family in the serene expanse of Kwantu Game Reserve, Romesa was the elder of two siblings who thrived under the nurturing care of her mother and stepfather. Despite their modest means, her family's unwavering support was her beacon of strength, illuminating the path towards her dreams. However, as Romesa grew, so did the financial challenges that threatened to dim her aspirations for higher education.

In the wake of contemporary digitalisation, the launch of the science and art exhibition by the NRF-SAIAB IMIsEE Project, in collaboration with the Rhodes University Department of Music and Musicology, took the Makhanda community by storm in bridging the gap between community-engaged research, science, music, and art. The Sound Postcard Exhibition Launch promotes digital methods and tools for collaborative research in Humanities.

Accomplished historian, Emeritus Professor Paul Maylam, author of six books and co-editor of a seventh, will on 1 March 2024 give a seminal lecture on the intellectual history of Rhodes University as part of the university’s 120th anniversary celebrations.

The motion of the planets through the night sky has captivated humanity since prehistoric times. The Great Saturn-Jupiter Conjunction of 2020 was particularly special. This remarkable astronomical event, which brought these two gas giants closer together than they had been for nearly four centuries, offered an enticing spectacle for stargazers worldwide. Professional astronomers, with telescopes capable of seeing well beyond the relative “backyard” of our solar system, also couldn’t resist the temptation to look.

In the heart of Dunoon’s Ekupholeni informal settlement, a story of remarkable determination and academic excellence unfolds, emblematic of the indomitable spirit of youth. Lilitha Masizana, a recent matriculant from Sinenjongo High School, has emerged as a top achiever amidst challenging circumstances and set a precedent for aspiring scholars nationwide. Her journey from a one-room shack, shared with her mother and younger brother, to securing a place at one of the country’s prestigious universities is a testament to her resilience and hard work.

In pursuing knowledge, pioneers often draw inspiration from the Chinese proverb that it's better to light a candle than to curse the darkness. There is no doubt that darkness surrounds us as a society – inequality, poverty, crime, ignorance and prejudice – to name but a few. However, instead of retreating to defeat, all it takes is a moment of awareness, reflection, and resolve to light a candle in the midst of the darkness. Lighting a candle forces us to focus on the sphere in which our influence lies. Its flicker and gentle glow are signs of hope and warmth.

The appointment of a male House Warden for Robert Sobukwe Residence, a female residence, at Rhodes University is a decision that may seem unconventional to some, considering the dysfunctional stereotypes that permeate university residences and halls across the globe. However, this choice reflects a progressive step towards gender neutrality and inclusivity, challenging the narratives associated with leadership roles in academic institutions. It underscores the importance of capability over gender, promoting a culture where leadership qualities are not confined to or defined by one's gender.

Rhodes University's Distinguished Professor Tebello Nyokong is set to receive her sixth honorary Doctor of Science degree later this year, this time from Imperial College in London.

The Makhanda Education Summit, held at Rhodes University over the weekend, has resolved to build on the tremendous success already achieved in reshaping the city’s educational terrain.

Rhodes University proudly spotlights the ground-breaking work of one of its lecturers, Dr Chikezie E. Uzuegbunam, whose research on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Africa has garnered international recognition. Funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, this journey began with a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Cape Town and has now reached an inspiring milestone at the 2023 African Studies Association (ASA) Annual Meeting in San Francisco.

Rhodes University is delighted to announce the hosting of the transformative Makhanda Education Summit, led by Vice Chancellor Prof Sizwe Mabizela. Scheduled for the 27th and 28th of January, this pivotal event is set to enhance the educational landscape of Makhanda, focusing primarily on early childhood development (ECD) and primary and secondary schooling phases.

A visit by the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation (AGOF) to Rhodes University provided an opportunity for the AGOF team to meet with the champions of innovation, leadership and community engagement initiatives at Rhodes University, and together explore ways to strengthen the partnership between AGOF and the institution 'where leaders learn'.

Andrew Tracey was born in Durban, South Africa on 5 May 1936 to Ursula Tracey (nee Campbell) and Hugh Travers Tracey, who was then Director, SABC Durban. When Andrew first heard African music as a young boy, he jumped up to join in with the competing teams of Zulu dancers.

A year-long celebratory programme packed with diverse activities, including reunions, high-level societal debates, unveilings, exhibitions and cultural activities, kicks off later this month with a seminal education summit to further strengthen quality education as Makhanda’s unique selling point.

In academia, it is not every day that we witness a blend of exceptional leadership, unyielding commitment, and a deep-rooted passion for education. However, Professor Tshidi Mohapeloa, from the Rhodes Business School exemplifies these traits so steadfastly, she earned a prestigious award for her unwavering service as the Deputy Chairperson of the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) Community of Practice for Teaching and Learning. This accolade was presented to her at the EDHE Intervarsity Studentpreneur finals in Johannesburg late last year.

Empatheatre's animated film, "Indlela Yokuphila," has been honored with the prestigious GOLDEN ZEBU award at the 18th edition of the Madagascourt Film Festival. This remarkable achievement celebrates the film's excellence in the PAN-AFRICAN ANIMATION COMPETITION.

One precarious day almost exactly a year ago, we were expecting Cyril Ramaphosa to resign over the Phala Phala scandal at any moment.

In his new book, Servings of Self-Mastery, alumnus and Google South Africa Director, Dr Alistair Mokoena shares a powerful message of personal empowerment and growth.

In the dynamic realm of cybersecurity, it is often the dedicated educators and passionate students who drive innovation and excellence. Dr Stones Chindipha, a lecturer in Computer Science at Rhodes University, has been instrumental in nurturing cybersecurity talent as evidenced by his group of students at the South African National Research Network (SANReN) Cyber Security Challenge earlier this month.

Recognition in the field of Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE) can be a defining moment for any researcher, especially in Africa. This year, Rhodes University Senior Lecturer and Researcher Dr Jonathan Davy and University of Ghana’s Dr Augustine Acquah became the first two African recipients of the International Ergonomics Association’s Kingfar Early Career Award.

Women's boxing has evolved from a fringe activity often met with scepticism and opposition, to a recognised and respected sport that epitomises the resilience and determination of women athletes in overcoming societal and institutional barriers. This narrative is exemplified by Luyolo ‘Killer Queen’ Nkatsheni, a nineteen-year-old woman boxer from Joza, who is also a Psychology student at Rhodes University.

In contemporary educational landscapes, the diversity of student backgrounds poses challenges for language instruction, necessitating effective language programmes. A comprehensive exploration of this imperative is encapsulated in the findings of a systematic meta-review conducted by Jordi Casteleyn, Mathea Simons, and Professor Tom Smits from Antwerp University, Belgium. Professor Smits, who is also a Senior Research Associate in the Department of Secondary and Post-School Education at Rhodes University, presented the results of the review at a recent public lecture.

On 25 November 2023, the three Distinguished Alumni Awardees for 2023 inspired the Rhodes University community with their words of power, resilience, and motivation at a special celebratory event.

Jonathan Hughes, a fourth-year BMus student at Rhodes University, emerged victorious in a prestigious essay competition hosted by the Journal of the Musical Arts in Africa (JMAA).

John Hlatywayo, who has died at 96, was a great painter, sculptor and mentor. However he is woefully neglected in the art history of Zimbabwe and southern Africa.

In a momentous virtual gathering, the Rhodes University community witnessed the launch of the first online open issue of the African Journal of Higher Education Community Engagement (AJHECE). The event, spearheaded by Ms Di Hornby, Director of Rhodes University Community Engagement, showcased a collaborative effort to bring forth a publication dedicated to advancing community-driven education.

In a world where gender-based violence (GBV) shadows the lives of many, Rhodes University (RU) has stepped into the light, championing change with its #RURises campaign. Coinciding with #16DaysOfActivism, this initiative is a testament to the Institution's unwavering commitment to tackling GBV head-on, not just in words, but in transformative action.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared this week as World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week. But what exactly are antimicrobials, and why should we care?

In celebrating 200 years of isiXhosa as a written language, Rhodes University hosted a celebratory event at the Amazwi South African Museum of Literature. The event was supported by Rhodes University; the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB); Amazwi South African Museum of Literature; Makana Municipality; Home of Legends; South African Library for the Blind (SALB); Republic of South Africa, Department of Sport, Arts & Culture, and the Province of the Eastern Cape, Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts & Culture.

Meet the remarkable Quinlan Caiger, an Isivivane and Kistefos beneficiary at Rhodes University, whose journey embodies the essence of inclusiveness, hard work, and community collaboration.

Reading a thesis is a time-consuming process, especially given the challenges of understanding the use of scientific terms within these academic works. But what if the author could present the gist of it in three minutes for the layman? That is exactly what Rhodes University postgrad students did at the recent annual 3MT (three-minute thesis) competition.

In the intricate realm of media dynamics, the concepts of media capture and coercion wield significant influence on the information landscape. Consequently, in an era where information flows ubiquitously, the dynamics of media capture and coercion have taken on new dimensions, further complicated by the emergence of social media and cancel culture. Professor Guy Berger, a distinguished scholar in media studies with a PhD from Rhodes University, has brought forth insightful perspectives on the intricate interplay between these phenomena, sparking discussions on the subtle forces that can shape and manipulate media narratives.

In a transformative stride towards fostering inclusivity and recognising the contributions of a diverse array of individuals, Rhodes University’s Department of Zoology and Entomology recently renamed six of its rooms.

Rhodes University has persistently opposed the fixation on international ranking systems dating back to at least 2013. That year, a panel was hosted by Rhodes University's Education Department to "explore what can and cannot be measured in universities, and where the 'obsession' with measurement comes from."

At the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) Awards Ceremony on November 09, 2023, Professor Makaiko Chithambo, the Head of Physics and Electronics at Rhodes University, and Professor Sioux McKenna, the Director of the Centre for Postgraduate Studies (CPGS), were welcomed as new members of the prestigious academy. They joined 38 of the country's foremost scholars and scientists in receiving this honour.

In the heart of Westmead, a small town nestled within Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal, a remarkable young man named Ntobeko David Mfeka was born. His story, set against community challenges of poverty, alcoholism and teenage pregnancy, is nothing short of inspirational.

While most students are looking forward to winding down the academic year, Dagan Naeser is preparing to begin a new journey with the Abe Bailey Travel Bursary.

The war that has erupted in Israel and Palestine since 7 October has caught many of us off guard with the ferocity with which both sides are trying to destroy each other and its utter disregard for civilian lives. South African news coverage of Israel and Hamas highlights how nothing about the conflict is straightforward and what a difficult line we need to tread if we are to work for peace.

On the evening of 11 October, the tradition of celebrating a new professorship via an inaugural lecture took place once more at Rhodes University, and this time it was for Professor Özlem Tastan Bishop.

Rhodes University’s Faculty of Pharmacy commemorated Pharmacy Research Day and shared their research at the Amazwi South African Museum of Literature. The day featured 17 postgraduate students who presented their research across various domains.

Rhodes University hosted the 2023 Eastern Cape Regional Intervarsity Pitch Competition on 17 and 18 October at the Amazwi South African Museum of Literature, which included studentrepreneurs from the University of Fort Hare (UFH), Nelson Mandela University (NMU) and Walter Sisulu University (WSU).

Honours students from Rhodes University’s Biotechnology Innovation Centre (RUBIC) travelled to Bloemfontein over the weekend to compete in the annual Intervarsitybrew: Brewing & Tasting Challenge hosted by Central University of Technology (CUT). They walked away with the FoodBev SETA Best Label Floating Trophy for designing 2023’s winning beer label, beating 17 other entries in this category.

Seahorses are considered fabled creatures by many; something that only exists in old mythical tales of the ocean. But these curious animals really exist – and they’re not the only members of the Syngnathidae family of fishes. Other syngnathids are pipefish, pygmy pipehorses and seadragons, and all are enchanting.

On 11 October 2023, the Centre for Biological Control (CBC), with Professor Sizwe Mabizela, the Vice-Chancellor of Rhodes University, and Ms Debbie Muir, an official from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE), released the weevil Listronotus appendiculatus.

Rhodes University School of Journalism and Media Studies (JMS) held a symposium this week to recognise and celebrate 100 years of radio in South Africa. The event was held to honour the significant contribution made by the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) in promoting social justice and diversity in South African radio institutions.

Last week, Rhodes University made history by hosting the 2023 Top 100 Awards in partnership with the Allan Gray Centre for Leadership Ethics (AGCLE).

On 05 October 2023, the Rhodes Business School hosted its 9th Annual Archbishop Thabo Makgoba Trust Lecture in the Eden Grove Lecture Theatre to explore values-based leadership and its impact on sustainable business practices in our complex, ever-evolving world.

On 03 October 2023, Professor Stephen Anthony Prevec delivered his inaugural lecture titled "My four decades of geological pursuit: Are we there yet?" This significant occasion marked the evolution of his academic journey and contributions to Earth Science.

Scientists and engineers from nine African countries, including South Africa, have converged at Rhodes University in Makhanda to share knowledge in building a low-cost radio telescope called the ‘Transient Array Radio Telescope’ or TART. The workshop takes place at Rhodes’ Continuing Education Centre from 9 to 13 October 2023, where participants will learn to assemble the instrument, get to understand the electronics and gain hands-on experience using the data acquired by TART.

The Rhodes University Community Engagement (RUCE) Awards is an annual ceremony that honours the outstanding efforts and dedication of individual students, residences, societies and community partner organisations who have made significant contributions to community involvement initiatives. This event not only acknowledges the dedicated work of students, staff, and community partners but also serves as a platform to encourage others to engage meaningfully with local communities.

On 03 October 2023, Rhodes University hosted Professor Clive Plasket for his final public lecture as a Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Law.

On 19 September 2023, the Office for Equity and Institutional Culture and the Student Representative Council (SRC), hosted a remarkable event at the Oppidan Dining Hall. This event featured a distinguished guest speaker, Landa Mabenge, the author of "Becoming Him: A Trans Memoir of Triumph," who shared his invaluable experiences on the path to self-acceptance and empowerment.

Rhodes University recently joined partner universities from Kenya and the Netherlands for a Summer School hosted by Maseno University as part of the ongoing EU-funded Creating Postgraduate Collaborations project [https://postgradcollaborations.com]. The Summer School focused on developing grant development and management skills, in line with the goals of supporting international cooperation projects based on multilateral partnerships between organisations.

The 2023 Pride Week opening brought together a diverse audience eager to delve into the intersection of LGBTQIA+ rights and religious interpretation

On Friday, 13 October 2023, at 09h30, a graduation ceremony for Rhodes University masters and PhD graduands will take place at the Settlers Monument in Makhanda, and renowned freedom fighter Bishop Peter Storey will receive a Doctor of Laws (honoris causa).

The Rhodes University Division of Student Services and Development (DSSD), in collaboration with the Health Care Centre (HCC) and the Residential Operations, held a breakfast at the Oppidan Dining Hall last week to raise breast cancer awareness.

Nature-based solutions (NbS) are actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural and modified ecosystems that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, simultaneously benefiting people and nature. NbS go beyond, and complement, land restoration for stemming the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services, through the incorporation of nature-conscious design principles. These solutions enhance the availability of water, improve water quality and reduce risks of water-related disasters.

In the heart of a bustling university campus, where academic pursuits often take precedence, one postgraduate student decided to bring life back to a neglected space. Chuma Songela, a 28-year-old graduate student who recently completed his Masters in Politics and International studies, embarked on a journey that transformed a forgotten garden at the Gavin Relly Postgraduate Village (PGV) and brought a sense of community and purpose to his life.

Last week, Rhodes University hosted an evening on the Commercialisation of Research themed “Transforming ideas into impact”. Vice-Chancellor Professor Sizwe Mabizela, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation, and Strategic Partnerships, Dr Nomakwezi Mzilikazi, Associate Professor and Head of Political and International Studies, Professor Siphokazi Magadla, Economics Professor and Head of Department, Professor Jen Snowball, distinguished guests, and students.

A recent men's Dialogue hosted by Higher Health in collaboration with the Eastern Cape Liquor Board at Rhodes University featured a panel of men from all walks of life discussing and addressing topics about manhood and masculinity.

Rhodes University lecturer in the Department of Drama, Gavin Krastin, was recently honoured for his work in theatre and performance with the prestigious Forty under 40 Award. The event was held at the Houghton Hotel earlier this month and hosted and supported by the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, the National Youth Development Agency and Xodus Communications.

Rhodes University Faculty of Law LLM Candidate, Tafadzwa Mavindidze, has been announced as the first-place recipient of the prestigious South African Law Reform Legal Essay Competition (SALRC) prize for 2023.

Rhodes University recently celebrated its retiring staff members during a memorable tree-planting tradition held on campus. Among them was Professor Justin Jonas, referred to by Dr Bernie Faranoff as the “spiritual guru of the SKA”. Prof Jonas first enrolled as a student at Rhodes University in 1976.

The African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) and The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities (The Guild) have launched a new Africa-Europe Clusters of Research Excellence (CoRE) on Creative Economies: Cultures, Innovation and Sustainability, which includes Rhodes University.

The Centre for Higher Education Research, Teaching and Learning's (CHERTL’s) Trojan Academic Initiative (TAI) student peer mentoring programme at Rhodes University marked its 20th anniversary with a celebration dinner which highlighted the profound impact of mentoring for first-year students as well as their senior student mentors.

Makhanda's River Rescuers put in a big effort this past weekend to do their housework for the planet. Helen Holleman of River Rescue calls it the "Spring Cleaning". The efforts were driven by a service learning partnership between River Rescue and the Rhodes University Department of Environmental Science, along with contributions from other partners.

Investec recently hosted an awards dinner to honour top academic achievements within the Rhodes University Commerce Faculty over the past four years, who had gone through the Extended Studies Programme.

Rhodes University recently gathered to celebrate the inaugural lecture of Professor Dion Nkomo, a distinguished scholar from the School of Languages and Literatures, who also serves as the NRF SARChI Chair: Intellectualisation of African Languages, Multilingualism and Education, as he assumed the prestigious rank of full professor.

Rhodes University recently hosted a 5-day workshop as part of a project called 'BAQONDE' (Boosting the use of African languages in education: A Qualified Organised National DEvelopment strategy for South Africa). This was the final workshop for the project, with other partners having hosted similar workshops in which about twenty Rhodes academics participated since 2022. The project ends at the end of the year.

The Global Leadership Summit held on 22 August in Durban, South Africa, brought together leaders of international education from numerous countries around the world to discuss the most pressing issues currently facing international higher education in a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world.

The Annual Rhodes University Postgraduate Conference enthusiastically kicked off on 8 September 2023. This two-day event, themed "Shaking the Table," brought together diverse students and academics from across all faculties at Rhodes University and beyond to exchange knowledge, engage in meaningful discourse, and present their cutting-edge research projects.

A recent book award lecture was held in honour of former Deputy-Vice Chancellor Professor Chrissie Boughey and the Director of Postgraduate Studies, Professor Sioux McKenna, for their collaborative book, “Understanding Higher Education: Alternative Perspectives”.

Rhodes University’s Institute for Water Research (IWR) is responding to the threats to water quality and availability across the African continent by helping in the establishment of institutional partnerships to equip researchers and communities with the tools to respond to significant challenges.

Each year, Rhodes University proudly recognises its outstanding alumni who have excelled in their respective fields and significantly impacted society. The recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award 2023, chosen by the Old Rhodian Union selection committee, are exemplary individuals who embody the values of Rhodes University: excellence, leadership, and service.

It is with great sadness that Rhodes University has learnt of the passing of the founder of Pick ‘n Pay and one of the University's esteemed honorary doctorate recipients, Dr Raymond Ackerman. Dr Ackerman was conferred with a Doctor of Laws (LLD) (honoris causa) by Rhodes University in 1986, in recognition of his role as a foremost entrepreneur, a committed humanitarian and the immense contribution he made to business and society. In a ceremony comprising a multitude of individual celebrations of students' achievements, there was a collective celebration of the unique achievement of Dr Ackerman.

Founded in 1911 by Sir George Cory and Professor Cullen Bowles, the Old Rhodian Union (ORU) administers bursaries for children of Old Rhodians and current University staff members. This year, the Union granted 31 bursaries to the value of R325 000.

Ground-breaking research by two Rhodes University PhD graduates, Tamryn Marsberg and Michael Jukes, has now led to the patent of viral-based products, MultiMax and CodlMax, as alternatives to the conventional use of chemical pesticides on citrus, apples, and litchi. The advantage of these products includes their lack of non-target effects such that the pest is controlled without the knock-on environmental harm.

In an increasingly interconnected world, the importance of diplomacy and international cooperation cannot be overstated. Rhodes University recently welcomed the Brazilian Association of Rectors of Provincial and Municipal Universities (ABRUEM), who have been visiting a selection of universities across South Africa, to its campus for the first time.

Responding to concerns about the presence of Escherichia coli (better known as E. coli) in Makana’s water supply, the Rhodes University Biotechnology Innovation Centre (RUBIC) activated its newly launched Water Testing Laboratory services to successfully allay fears about the presence of this bacteria in drinking water.

This year, Rhodes University is celebrating the long-service milestones of 140 dedicated employees, who have a cumulative 2240 years between them.

Rhodes University Durban-based alumni came out strongly to support the much-anticipated foundation of alumni chapters nationwide. This sentiment was shared during last night's alumni reunion at the Umhlanga Rocks in Durban. Proud alumni of the institution came out in numbers to reconnect with each other and get an update on important matters concerning their alma mater. Members of the media were also part of this momentous occasion.

In a ground-breaking acknowledgement of excellence, the Centre for Radio Astronomy Techniques and Technologies (RATT) has been awarded the highly-coveted NRF Science Team Award for 2023.

Nokubonga Msweli, a 3rd-year Bachelor of Pharmacy student at Rhodes University, is a beneficiary of a Clicks Foundation bursary through Rhodes University's Isivivane Fund. Originally from Mandeni in Kwa-Zulu Natal, Nokubonga expressed that her upbringing and background inspired her to choose a STEM-related profession.

The Office of Equity and Institutional Culture is excited to announce the return of the 'My Body, My Choice' campaign to Rhodes University. The phrase, 'My Body My Choice,' originates in the women-led movement for reproductive rights in the United States but has been widely used by different activist collectives pursuing their rights to bodily integrity and self-determination. Rhodes University can boast a history of active feminist work on campus, including a decade's worth of photographic campaigns under the banner of 'My Body, My Choice' focused on the reclamation of embodiment.

Having been raised by a single mother in a rural township with low economic resources, Yamkelani Sopapaza overcame many obstacles to pursue higher education. With the help of funding through Isivivane Fund, this brilliant student graduated from Rhodes University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy earlier in 2023.

Lorraine Phahlamohlaka, a young woman in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) is passionate about the importance of shaping the recognition of young women in the field. Originally from Limpopo, Lorraine pursued her studies in Pharmacy at Rhodes University. With the financial aid provided by Aspen Holdings through Rhodes University’s Isivivane Fund, Lorraine completed her degree in June 2023.

The Registrars’ Imbizo is an annual event bringing together Registrars across South African universities to engage on various issues impacting the higher education sector. During 21-22 August 2023, Rhodes University welcomed the Imbizo to its campus for the first time, with Registrar Professor Adéle Moodly as the host.

The African Masculinity Symposium, co-hosted by the Critical Studies in Sexualities and Reproduction (CSSR) and the School of Journalism and Media Studies, occurred earlier this month at Eden Grove Blue. The event aimed to tackle the topic of Challenging Patriarchal Norms for a Safer and More Equitable Society. The objective was to address pressing matters such as Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and its connection to violent masculinities; and how it has provoked social media movements and prompted national debates calling on the need for change.

In a bold move to articulate its ambition in postgraduate education, Rhodes University hosted an event to encourage third-year students to apply for Honours studies. The event was held at the Barrat Lecture Theatre on 18 August 2023 and was hosted by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor responsible for Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships, Dr Kwezi Mzilikazi.

In a grand celebration of educational distinction and pedagogical innovation, Rhodes University once again demonstrated its commitment to exceptional teaching by hosting the 2022 Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award Lecture - a testament to the University’s dedication to recognising and celebrating outstanding educators. The highlight of the evening was the introduction of the recipient of the 2022 Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award, Dr Ntethelelo Sibiya.

Rhodes University has joined the ground-breaking ArtMathsScienceTech project, a unique initiative that seeks to revolutionise how mathematics and science are taught at schools. Through the fusion of theatre, music, dance, and crafts, this innovative approach aims to create engaging and playful environments, transforming traditional subjects into captivating learning experiences.

Students, members of the Ink Society and staff at Rhodes University recently participated in an open mic event in celebration of Women's Month. The event, themed "Celebrating African Women Writers", was to honour and shine a light on African women authors.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has been navigating turbulent waters for the past year but always seems to come through in the clear. Lately, he has dodged past the rugged rocks of Phala Phala and narrowly missed the cataclysmic vortex of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.

Fifty-eight Rhodes University staff members were recognised at this year’s Vice-Chancellor and Thomas Alty Awards on 14 August 2023. This ceremony acknowledges staff members who have attained further qualifications within the last year, either through Rhodes University or an external institution.

The topic of women in leadership holds personal significance to many due to the pervasive patriarchal norms affecting societies worldwide.

Nostalgia and innovation intertwined as Rhodes University's current Student Representative Council (SRC) and SRC Alumni gathered to launch the SRC Alumni Board on 12 August 2023. This historic moment saw a fusion of past and present, birthing a new era for preserving the SRC legacy.

For the first time in the history of Eastern Cape Intervarsity, Rhodes University emerged victorious at the 2023 tournament, beating the nearest competition by 16 points to take the winning spot from titleholders, Nelson Mandela University (NMU).

The Rhodes University Political and International Studies Department successfully hosted its annual Teach-In lecture series, a significant event on the academic calendar since 2002. This year's series, "Energy is the Life-blood of Development: Perspectives on the South African Energy Crisis", took place over lunch and spanned an hour, inviting students and the wider Rhodes community to participate actively.

In keeping with its cherished tradition, the Rhodes University community gathered to attend the Inaugural Lecture of Professor Adrienne Edkins. This time-honoured ritual accompanies the University's recognition of an academic's elevation to the esteemed rank of full professor.

Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Thembi Nkadimeng called for a reduction of municipal councillors’ power in order to achieve good governance. The Minister was making a keynote address at Rhodes University during first day of week-long Student Representative Councilor’s (SRC) Leadership Week series.

Education is the real lever to transform our society. We are supposed to rediscover, discover, replant and plant because what matters the most is the seed that we plant, and with current crop of students, the country can harvest that. These were the sentiments shared by the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature Deputy Speaker, Mlibo Qoboshiyane, during the second day of the Student Representative Council (SRC) Leadership Week last night.

“Strijdom, you have tampered with the women, you have struck a rock, you will be crushed!” These are the words of the song composed by the women of 1956 as they staged a peaceful march to the Union Buildings on 09 August 1956 to confront the might of the ignominious apartheid regime that had enacted a law designed to extend the cruel and iniquitous ‘pass law’ to African women.

Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sizwe Mabizela has pleaded with the National Parliament to keep the Seat of the High Court in Makhanda. He highlighted the potential loss of jobs and destruction of livelihoods that could result from such a move.

The air of excitement was palpable as close to 100 young learners from St Mary’s Primary School gathered on the main cricket field at Kingswood College on Wednesday, 01 August, for their coaching activation with nine cricket coaches from the Gary Kirsten Foundation, along with four local coaches.

Plans are underway for the brand-new Postgraduate Diploma in Advancement and Resource Mobilisation to be offered next year by the Rhodes Business School.

Rhodes University in the Eastern Cape has honoured the late SEK Mqhayi, one of the greatest Xhosa writers in history. This comes, as the institution celebrates 200 years of the written isiXhosa language.

Rhodes University Drama Lecturer Selloane ‘Lalu’ Mokuku and MA student Khanya Ngcuka each won a Bronze Award at this year’s National Art Festival (NAF).

On 20 July 2023, Dr Jessica Cockburn gave her 2021 Special Vice-Chancellor's Distinguished Teaching Award Lecture titled: "Becoming a teacher in turbulent times: cultivating connection and care in context". The event was well-attended by Dr Cockburn's friends, family, fellow lecturers and students.

Former South African president Nelson Mandela was celebrated through knowledge-sharing at the Barrat lecture theatre at Rhodes University on 18 July 2023.

Rhodes University's Eden Grove Blue Lecture Theatre was abuzz with excitement as scholars from various fields gathered to witness the inaugural address of Professor James Gambiza. The event, a prestigious milestone in an academic's career, marks the conferral of full professor status on a scholar who has showcased exceptional scholarly contributions to their discipline.

Rhodes University School of Journalism and Media Studies (JMS) unveiled its mural, which celebrates and honours industry legends, on Friday at the Afrika Media Matrix.

Rhodes University alumna and former Student Recruitment Officer, Tulisa Mondliwa, has received government recognition and a boost for her Afrikare beauty product business. The Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR) recently held awards for top-performing women farmers in the Sarah Baartman district.

Rhodes University’s international recognition was boosted last week when the South Korea Ambassador, His Excellency Chull-joo Park and administrative official, Jung In Myeong, visited Rhodes University.

In celebration of Nelson Mandela International Day, the interns at Rhodes University's Community Engagement (RUCE) took proactive steps to engage with local high school students by providing guidance on the application processes for higher education institutions. Sinazo Sonjica and Makube Qinela, visited grade 12 pupils at Nathaniel Nyaluza Senior Secondary School, shedding light on opportunities at Rhodes University and other local colleges. Their efforts aimed to address the lack of information hindering students from pursuing tertiary education.

Nelson Mandela Day, observed annually on 18 July, honours the iconic South African leader by encouraging ordinary people to emulate his legacy of social justice, reconciliation, and investment in education. This year, the Rhodes University Community Engagement (RUCE) office focused on supporting local schools in underserved communities with a generous donation of educational materials.

Professor Cliff Jones, Rhodes University Head of the Department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science (DIFS), an African Centre of Excellence, accompanied by Professor ‘Mabokang Monnapula-Mapesela, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academic and Students Affairs, recently welcomed a large delegation from Liberia on their arrival to Rhodes University.

The Rhodes University Student Recruitment hosted a Life Orientation teacher’s workshop last week to celebrate and honour top provincial feeder schools.

Rhodes University welcomes the appointment of its Board of Governors Chairperson, alumnus and the Executive in Residence at the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), Mr Andile Sangqu, to the position of the chair of the Transnet Board.

The Allan Gray Centre for Leadership Ethics (AGCLE) is thrilled to announce its partnership with the Career Centre and sponsorship of the annual Top 100 Student Awards. Henceforth, the awards will be known as the “Rhodes University & Allan Gray Centre for Leadership Ethics Top 100 Student Leadership Awards”.

How much significance should we read into Ace Magashule’s expulsion from the ANC, and will it have ripple effects on coalition possibilities for the 2024 elections? A look at June’s news coverage of the ruling party raises these questions, and reminds us of the deep moral gutter South African politics has descended into.

A team of four final-year Rhodes University Faculty of Law students boarded a 13-hour flight to Geneva, Switzerland, to participate in the prestigious John H Jackson International Trade Law Moot Court Competition.

Rhodes University’s Institute for Nanotechnology Innovation Director, Distinguished Professor Tebello Nyokong, has been appointed to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.

At the end of June 2023, Rhodes University academics and directors participated in an international, interdisciplinary seminar themed ‘Leadership for Workplace Health Promotion in Educational Institutions & Community Settings: Post-Tuberculosis (TB) Lung Disease’.

Rhodes University, nestled in the heart of Makhanda, is renowned for its commitment to academic excellence. Recently, Dean of Science Professor Tony Booth emphasised the town's ability to nurture exceptional minds, urging grade 12 learners from six no-fee paying schools in Makhanda to take advantage of the University's resources.

Scientists, including Rhodes University Visiting Professor Dr Gyula Józsa, use the LOFAR telescope to observe low-frequency radio waves from satellites in large constellations for the first time. “Unintended electromagnetic radiation” emanating from onboard electronics in Starlink satellites was detected, which could impact astronomical research.

It was a week in which academics wrote poems with ChatGPT and learned computational methods to collect data from thousands of online news sites. Rhodes University's School of Journalism and Media Studies (JMS) hosted the DigiMethods 2023 event from 19 to 24 June 2023. Academic staff and postgraduate students came from as far as Uganda and Kenya to attend the event, which included a winter school on digital research methods and a colloquium on future-proofing the media and journalism curriculum.

Rhodes University is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Claire Kelly, a well-respected researcher, teacher and facilitator in social justice and critical diversity, as its Director: Equity and Institutional Culture, with effect from 1 July 2023.

Rhodes University, in collaboration with the University of Pretoria, will host the Future Earth Africa Hub Leadership Centre from 2023 to 2026.

Rhodes University is delighted to announce that Dr Nomakwezi Mzilikazi will assume her role as the new Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships on 1 July 2023.

What constitutes effective training to ensure research supervisors are well equipped to work with doctoral students? Sioux McKenna and Puleng Motshoane share advice based on their research in South Africa.

Rhodes University is currently hosting fellows from the last African Humanities Programme (AHP) cohort. Since 2009, the AHP has awarded fellowships to more than 450 early career scholars in Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda, with the generous support of the Carnegie Corporation of New York (CCNY). The programme that began in 2008-09 was due to conclude in 2020-21 but was extended due to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rhodes University has been drafted to take up key roles in various clusters of the newly launched Africa-Europe Clusters of Excellence, including co-leading the establishment of Water Resource Management for a Sustainable and Just Future Cluster.

“Besieged” is the word the Eskom’s former board chairperson Malegapuru Makgoba used to refer to the ailing power utility when he appeared before the standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) last month.

In May, Rhodes University dedicates a month-long celebration to Africa, encompassing International Week and culminating in Africa Day on the 25th. In response to a call from the Rhodes University International Office, numerous departments collaborated and organised activities, exhibitions and displays independently to acknowledge and celebrate Africa Month.

The Canadian Society for Pharmaceutical Sciences (CSPS) has announced Emeritus Professor Isadore Kanfer as the 2023 recipient of the CSPS Lifetime Achievement Award in Toronto for his outstanding contributions over the length of his career.

Africa Day (25 May 2023) was broadly acknowledged on campus, with an exhibition in the English Department, displays on each floor of the Library and campus screens rotated interesting facts about every single country in Africa, to educate the whole community.

Loved ones and members of the Rhodes University community gathered at the 1820 Settler's Monument in Makhanda on 10 June 2023 to pay tribute to and celebrate the life of one of the University’s most prominent alumni Eusebius McKaiser.

Guests to the Internationalisation Awards event held in early May were welcomed by the uplifting sounds of a Rhodes University ensemble from the International Library of African Music (ILAM), led by Mr Elijah Madiba.

Following a Makana Municipality statement regarding the detection of E. coli in Makana’s water supply last month, Rhodes University’s Biotechnology Innovation Centre (RUBIC) availed its water-testing capabilities to the community to provide consistent and transparent monitoring of the effectiveness of the municipality’s disinfection measures.

While over 10% of the registered full-time student body comes from beyond the borders of South Africa, mainly from the SADC region, Rhodes University has shorter-term international students on campus, as part of credit-bearing semester abroad programmes, throughout the academic year.

Acclaimed South African Theatre Collective, Empatheatre, which was established as part of Dr Dylan McGarry’s postdoctoral research, will present its new short film "Indlela Yokuphila: The Soul's Journey" at United Nations World Ocean Week in New York on 07 June 2023.

Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sizwe Mabizela, welcomed 62 graduates to campus last week as they joined the University as part of the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI) programme.

Rhodes University’s basketball team, the Titans have emerged with unparalleled might and immeasurable strength to claim the title as the Eastern Cape's Basketball Champions once again.

Lecturer in Rhodes University's School of Journalism & Media Studies, Dr Chikezie Uzuegbunam, has been selected among other international research scientists to join the IPIE, the International Panel on the Information Environment.

Twenty-seven (27) students who came through the 9/10ths programme were awarded different qualifications in the recent Rhodes University graduation ceremonies held earlier this year. The University regards this achievement as confirmation that the programme works incredibly well.

Most philosophers of education or philosophically inclined scholars of education in the past century and a half would agree with the claim that, ideally, education should be the practice of freedom. That is, it ought to cultivate the ability to intelligently decide how we want to shape our lives. The aim of education should be to foster human autonomy.

Professor Justin Jonas, Professor of Physics and Electronics at the Rhodes University Department of Physics and Electronics, gave a lecture following his bestowal of the inaugural esteemed Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Award (2020). In attendance were family and friends, students, and the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sizwe Mabizela.

Community Engagement is not a new concept, as it has played a significant role in society over the years. However, its formalisation as a core function of universities is relatively recent. Community engagement helps universities to contribute to the socio-economic development of local communities.

Rhodes University hosted the first sector-wide Language Resources Audit conducted by the South African Centre for Digital Language Resources (SADiLAR) at the Continuing Education Centre this week.

Recognising her exceptional leadership, dedication, and achievements in advancing internationalisation at Rhodes University, Professor Sioux McKenna, the Director of the Centre for Postgraduate Studies (CPGS), has been awarded the 2022 Internationalisation Award. Her tireless efforts have strengthened the institution's global presence and significantly contributed to the advancement of knowledge and understanding on a worldwide scale.

On the second day of Rhodes University's Community Engagement Learning Symposium at the Amazwi South African Museum of Literature, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs, Professor ‘Mabokang Monnapula-Mapesela, encouraged attendees to engage in difficult and uncomfortable conversations. She argued that universities must make community engagement an integral part of academics and not simply "a contribution".

On the evening of 9 May 2023, Rhodes University’s Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs, Professor ‘Mabokang Monnapula-Mapesela, introduced the 2022 Vice-Chancellor's Distinguished Community Engagement award winners at Amazwi South African Museum of Literature in Makhanda. The winners’ lecture formed part of a three-day Community Engagement Learning Symposium hosted by Rhodes University.

On 09 May 2023, the Rhodes University Community Engagement division launched its Community Engagement (CE) Learning Symposium, which included speakers from all over the globe. This was the first of three days of discussions and workshops centred around highlighting, as per the official website, the "developmental and transformative roles of universities" in incorporating CE in their institutions to serve "as a platform to build community-university relationships for the mutual benefit of all those involved in CE, such as students, communities and academics".

Rhodes University’s Director of the Institute for Nanotechnology Innovation, Distinguished Professor Tebello Nyokong, has been selected as a Fellow of the Royal Society.

Rhodes University has appointed its alumnus and retired advocate, Torquil John Macleod Paterson SC, as the University’s new Ombud. He takes over from Advocate Les Roberts.

Rhodes University’s International Office recently hosted the International Education Association of South Africa’s (IEASA) Director Forum, the advisory body of IEASA. It was the first face-to-face event of the year of IEASA’s silver jubilee.

The GADRA Matric School, alongside Rhodes University, celebrated the graduation of Junaid Denston, a former GADRA student, during the 2023 graduation season.

The International Education Association of South Africa (IEASA), the leading and only national organisation dedicated to higher education internationalisation in South Africa, is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2023.

The Rhodes University Pharmacy Department hosted its annual White Coat ceremony to officially welcome new students into the professional world of pharmacy.

Two students from the Institute of Physics at the University of São Paulo, Brazil, are visiting Rhodes University on a staff-student exchange programme to learn more about the luminescence properties of natural Brazilian minerals.

Rhodes University’s Music and Musicology PhD candidate and jazz singer and songwriter, Natalie Rungan, has recently been awarded for her love, dedication, and hard work in music. She won an international Akademia Music Grand Award for her lively and introspective Jazz EP, 'There's A Sound in My Head.' The album was composed as the creative foundation of her PhD. In it, she reflects on her musical journey and the life turns and revelations that made her the artist and teacher she is today.

Rhodes University’s Director of the Centre for Postgraduate Studies, Professor Sioux McKenna, was one of ten panellists comprising academics and Chief Executive Officers of tech companies, at the latest CogitAIt Colloquium. The Colloquium was held on Tuesday, 18 April 2023, and it looked at the applications of emerging technologies in education, research, and training.

The Student Bureau at Rhodes University is not only the first point of contact for new students, but their involvement in the graduation ceremonies means that they get the chance to see a student’s academic journeys right to their brilliant end.

Wine was first produced in South Africa as far back as the mid-1600s by Dutch colonisers who sold it to passing ships. The industry developed further during the colonial and apartheid eras and wine became an important part of the South African economy.

Rhodes University Chemistry PhD candidate, Kristen Burgess, has been selected for the illustrious Gates Cambridge scholarship. Burgess is part of the Gates Cambridge Class of 2023, made up of 77 outstanding new scholars from across the world.

Rhodes University has come out strongly to re-affirm its decision not to participate in scientifically dubious and anti-transformation international university ranking systems.

Rhodes University student Anelisa Mfenyana's story perfectly illustrates how, if you are determined and work hard for what you want, you will achieve it.

There are a lot of key role players involved in making Rhodes University's graduation an auspicious occasion that is filled with excitement and celebration. A critical, but often invisible role is that of the Academic Administration section within the Registrar's Division.

Resilience is a theme in Mbongeni Shabangu's story. As a person living with a visual impairment, he had to constantly perform the arduous task of not allowing himself to be the product of his circumstances. At this year's March graduation ceremonies, Shabangu graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Computer Sciences and Economics) degree.

Rhodes University and UK’s leading innovator for Greentech environmental solutions in the carbon fuels industry, ElimiNOX, have signed a ground-breaking memorandum of understanding that aims, among other objectives, to set up R300 million fund for carbon offset tax-free allowances to big industry players.

The South Africa Sweden University Forum (SASUF), of which Rhodes University is a member, recently held its Research and Innovation Week 2023. Several Rhodes University academics and executives participated.

In the hopes of combining her passions for conservation, Indigenous storytelling and cinematography, PhD Candidate and Student Representative Council (SRC) Vice-President Putuma Balintulo fulfils her dream as a fellow at the Nature, Environment and Wildlife Filmmakers (NEWF).

Intercultural Education China's Founder and Director, Ms. Linda Liao, and the Director of Overseas Recruitment, Ms. Talen Tan, visited the Rhodes University International Office and Career Centre to encourage Rhodes University final year and postgraduate students to consider teaching opportunities in China.

After suffering a catastrophic stroke while performing on stage in 2019, with only two months left for him to finish his master’s degree in ethnomusicology, Joe Makhanza had to pause his academic journey.

Graduation week at Rhodes University is a momentous occasion for graduates and their loved ones, as it marks the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. To ensure the smooth running of the prestigious event, the University relies heavily on the support of student helpers behind-the-scenes.

In May 2022, the government in Ghana introduced a deeply unpopular tax on mobile money transactions, known as the e-levy. When it was introduced, the levy was structured as a 1.5% charge on all electronic and mobile money transactions over 100 cedis per day.

The Department of Higher Education and Training has awarded Rhodes University R13 497 000 to run three projects aimed at making a national impact on the higher education sector.

Rhodes University’s communications officer Velisile Bukula was one of hundreds of graduates capped this week at the institution’s autumn graduation which took place over three days.

During the 14h30 graduation ceremony of 30 March 2023, the Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Community Engagement Award was jointly awarded to Professor Megan Campbell, Nqobile Msomi, Dr Duane Booysen, Christine Lewis and Mandisa Ndabula from the Rhodes University Psychology Department.

Rhodes University usually dresses up its campus during its annual graduation celebrations, but this year it boosted efforts to include an even wider area.

Investec recently hosted a welcome event for first-year students of Rhodes University's Commerce Extended Studies Programme (ESP). Representing Investec were Mr Setlogane Manchidi, the Investec Head of Corporate Social Investment (CSI), and Mrs Thembiso Kodisang, an Investec CSI Practitioner. The Acting Dean of Commerce, Professor Lynette Louw, also attended the welcome event.

At its graduation ceremony on 30 March 2023, Rhodes University will confer a degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD) (honoris causa) on the Professor of Development Studies at Nelson Mandela University, Janet Cherry.

Rhodes University BSc alumnus, Nkululeko Ngqinambi has produced a biofertiliser to help lower production costs for farmers who have been battling high fertiliser prices.

At its graduation ceremony on 31 March 2023, Rhodes University will confer a degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD) (honoris causa) on Professor Debra Roberts, who heads the Sustainable and Resilient City Initiatives Unit in eThekwini Municipality.

At its graduation ceremony on Friday, 31 March 2023, Rhodes University will confer a degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD) (honoris causa) on Executive Director at Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute Professor Helen Rees.

Named Koko, Nqonqo, Knock knock! Arts for Life!, Rhodes University and Wits University held a series of arts-based interventions in March 2023 to create meaningful dialogue and connections and destigmatise student mental health issues.

At its fourth graduation ceremony on Thursday, 30 March 2023, at 14h30, Rhodes University will confer a degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD) (honoris causa) on its alumnus and Judge of the Constitutional Court of South Africa, Justice Mbuyiseli Russel Madlanga.

In an unprecedented follow-up, the upcoming Rhodes University graduation will see a substantial majority of women graduates. Of 1733 graduands, a staggering 1120 are women.

At its graduation ceremony on 29 March 2023, Rhodes University will confer a degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD) (honoris causa) on the Chairperson of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into allegations of state capture and Chief Justice of South Africa, Judge Raymond Mnyamezeli Zondo.

Imagine a world where a few drops of your blood, saliva or tears could give you early warning of impending cancer, heart attacks or other dread diseases. This field of ultra-sensitive disease diagnostics is already in the making, and Philani Mashazi, Associate Professor of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry at Rhodes University, is right at the forefront.

Digital archives are an essential aspect of the educational sphere. They serve as a form of immortalising knowledge, which can easily be lost if time is not taken to ensure its survival. The Rhodes University Library, in collaboration with the Environmental Learning Research Centre (ELRC), recently presented an initiative to ensure that knowledge is stored and packaged for years and years to come through a digital archive project.

Last week, the Rhodes University Biotechnology Innovation Centre (RUBIC) officially launched a water testing facility at the Biological Sciences building.

The United Nation’s (UN) 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to create a more peaceful and sustainable world, and university research can play a vital role in achieving them. The Rhodes University Library and Community Engagement division have initiated SDG projects to promote access to this knowledge across society.

The Rhodes University Library recently held a two-day Open Science Colloquium under the theme “Climate Justice Through Open Knowledge” at the Amazwi South African Museum of Literature. The event was aimed at discussing the climate crisis and the ways in which it continues to impact different groups of people in a variety of ways.

The COVID-19 pandemic was a shock to higher education systems everywhere. But while some changes, like moving lectures online, were relatively easy to make, assessment posed a much bigger challenge. Assessment can take many forms, from essays to exams to experiments and more.

From marching in the town centre to occupying parks, people often gather to challenge the status quo in public spaces. Street art is no different. Though it might not come to mind when we think of protest, plastering graphics and words onto city walls is a political intervention.

Rhodes University’s Masters of Biotechnology candidate, Ntobeko Songcata, recently won the Eastern Cape Innovation Challenge Award for his MSc project pitch.

Twenty-four years of uninterrupted service, dedication, and love for her job have earned Jayalakshmi Pillay a promotion to the Director of Residential Operations. ‘Jay’, as she is better known, arrived at the Institution in 1999 as the Food Services Manager. She was appointed as the Deputy Director of Residential Operations in 2013.

Relocating the seat of the high court would be nothing short of a death knell for this city. Makhanda would become a ghost town.

It was not ‘research as usual’ for six MSc students from the Institute for Water Research (IWR) at Rhodes University on 16 and 17 February, 2023. The six students, Andrew Ali, Havilah Nnadozie, Esther Seriki, Peter Wasswa, Sakikhaya Mabohlo and Sofia Lazar participated in the 5th edition of the W4F Hackathon organised by the UNESCO ICIREWARD International Centre in Montpellier, France.

Rhodes University today welcomes Dr. Pakiso Tondi as the new Director of Student Affairs. He takes over from Ms Nomangwane Mrwetyana, who has served the University for many years.

A celebratory dinner was recently held to acknowledge the achievements and financial donors of Nine Tenths, a successful mentoring programme which forms part of Rhodes University’s Community Engagement (RUCE) initiatives. The dinner was attended by several high-level individuals, including the Vice Chancellor of Rhodes University, Professor Sizwe Mabizela, mentors, mentees, and donors who had provided critical support.

Students from schools in Makhanda and nearby communities, including Port Alfred, Bathurst, and Gqeberha, met on 17 February 2023 for the Rhodes University Mathematics Experience (RUME) at the Barratt Lecture Theatre Complex at Rhodes University.

Rhodes University Environmental Learning and Research Centre (ELRC) recently hosted a welcoming launch in celebration of the new qualification, the Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainability Learning [PGDip (SL)].

After a fulfilling 11-year journey at Rhodes University, Division of Student Affairs (DSA) Director, Ms Nomangwane Mrwetyana, bids farewell to the University. ‘Mam’ Noma’, as she is affectionately known by students, leaves her alma mater with fond memories. She started as a Senior Psychologist at the Counselling Care Centre and worked her way up to the Director position.

At the age of 61, people are generally considering retiring and spending quiet time with their families. However, this is not the case for the newly-elected Student Representative Council (SRC) Oppidan Councillor, Adrian February. He is the oldest student in the history of Rhodes university to be elected to serve as an SRC Councillor.

The Rhodes Business School recently held a graduation ceremony for its Manager’s Development Programme (MDP) and Supervisors’ Development Programmes (SDP). The two programmes were launched in 2021 to improve leadership skills for managers and supervisors within Rhodes University.

Millions of women in South Africa struggle to afford sanitary products. This can stop them from attending school and working, undermining their health and dignity. Last week, the Mina Foundation visited Rhodes University to promote its durable and cost-effective period solution. The Mina Cup is a reusable silicon menstrual cup. They also launched a campaign to increase awareness of women’s reproductive health and de-stigmatise the conversations around menstruation.

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sizwe Mabizela welcomed hundreds of students from different initiatives such as Gadra Matric School (GMS), the Bridging programme and the Nine-Tenths mentoring programme last week. Professor Mabizela congratulated them for making it to Rhodes University and encouraged them never to give up on their dreams.

Hartbeespoort Dam, locally called Harties, is a popular getaway destination known for its scenic views and water activities. For decades, the dam has been infested with an alien plant species that regenerates quicker than it can be removed – the hyacinth.

One of the South African Broadcasting Corporation’s (SABC) finest journalists and Rhodes University’s School of Journalism and Media Studies’ (JMS) alumnus, Thami Dickson, has been appointed News and Current Affairs Editor for Channel Africa. Dickson is an experienced journalist with almost 20 years of working experience in radio and television news production.

Dedication, enthusiasm, and love for his job have made Dawie Van Dyk’s promotion to Director of Facilities and Infrastructure at Rhodes University possible. Van Dyk arrived at Rhodes University in March 2014 and assumed the responsibility of Deputy Director: Facilities Services, and in May 2022, he became the Deputy Director of Projects, Space and MIS.

Rhodes welcomes new academics

Fighting climate change is high on the world’s agenda, and many believe planting trees is a powerful way to fix the crisis. Forests can capture and store carbon dioxide (CO2), the main culprit behind our warming atmosphere. But Associate Professor Susi Vetter, from the Rhodes University Botany Department, argues that the drive to reforest the earth can be misleading and, at worst, harmful to people and the planet.

Last week, the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology at Rhodes University held a talk under the theme: “Transdisciplinary research, sustainability, data and ethics - global trends shaping the future of academic research” with alumna Professor Stephanie Burton at the Biosciences Building.

About 1600 First Time Entering Students (FTENs) and their parents and guardians descended on Makhanda for the start of the University's Orientation Week this past weekend. They completed their registration and were allocated to their respective residences.

If there was one person in South Africa all eyes were watching in 2022, it was Cyril Ramaphosa. His vertiginous swing in fortunes from almost resigning at the beginning of December to winning a second term as ANC president less than three weeks later left many of us with our hearts in our mouths.

As the 2023 academic year begins, the Rhodes university mentorship program is excited to welcome first-year students and assist them in this beautiful and exciting journey they are about to embark on. Rhodes University prides itself on excellent retention and throughput rates. For Rhodes to sustain its performance in relation to retention, throughout and graduation rates, it aims to keep strengthening its claim as an institution of solidarity and care, one that deliberately builds the resilience and character of its students.

Keeping track of the world’s wildlife populations is fundamental to conservation efforts in the face of the continued deterioration of global biodiversity.

More than Nollywood films, Afrobeats is arguably Nigeria’s strongest cultural export since the turn of the millennium. It is a hugely dynamic music category that incorporates a range of moods, languages, styles, and existing genres. To understand its impact, a cultural connoisseur has equated good Afrobeats music with well-made, smoky Nigerian party jollof rice!

It was smiles and jubilation at Khutliso Daniels Secondary School yesterday when 135 learners received new school shoes from Standard Bank Tutuwa Community Foundation and Bata Shoes. This results from a fruitful partnership between Standard Bank and Rhodes University Community Engagement (RUCE).

Twenty-two students from South African universities have converged at Rhodes University to participate in the MeerKAT Grand Tour Data Science workshop held from Sunday, 15 to Saturday, 21 January 2023.

Megan Reid, a PhD candidate in the Department of Zoology and Entomology at Rhodes University, has won the prestigious Young Entomologists Essay Prize from the Entomological Society of South Africa (ESSA).

Renowned African musician, songwriter and storyteller Latozi “Madosini” Mphahleni passed away late in 2022. The cultural and indigenous music activist, who laughed as often as she played, was loved by everyone she met. She has left behind a rich legacy of Xhosa music, heritage and history. She also taught and nurtured a new generation of bow players, reinvigorating an art that was dying.

Rhodes University LLM student and part-time lecturer, Hugh Harnett has been announced as the winner of the prestigious South African Law Reform Legal Essay Competition (SALRC) for 2021. The results were delayed due to COVID-19 restrictions and were only announced last week.

The Rhodes University community is saddened by the passing of one of its honorary doctorate recipients and the first Speaker of the National Assembly in the democratic South Africa, Dr Frene Ginwala. Dr Ginwala died on Thursday following a stroke.

Rhodes University has learnt with deep shock and dismay about the cold-hearted murder of the executive protection officer and security aide, Mr Mboneli Vesele, and the assassination attempt on the University of Fort Hare’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sakhela Buhlungu.

The Rhodes University community is saddened by the news of the passing of one of its honorary doctorate recipients, Mama Latozi Madosini Mphahleni. Mama Madosini was one of South Africa’s most celebrated artists, teachers, composers and storytellers.

Rhodes University commerce alumna Taryn Woodbridge has recently been appointed the first-ever woman Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Executive Director: Finance and Controlling of Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA).

Storytelling and science may, at first glance, seem like strange bedfellows. Scientists usually share their research through academic journals and books or at academic conferences.

Rhodes University recently bade farewell to one of its longest-serving staff members, outgoing Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation Professor Peter Clayton.

Over the past 30 years, the Rhodes University Environmental Learning and Research Centre (ELRC) has created a plethora of scholarship on social innovation, environmental education, and the transformative potential of university and civil society partnerships.

Rhodes University School of Journalism and Media Studies (JMS) wrapped up its 50th-anniversary celebrations and awards last week.

Last week, at the Barratt lecture theatre, Rhodes University hosted a two-day Department of Science and Innovation (DSI)-Mintek Nanotechnology Innovation Centre (NIC) annual workshop.

South Africa is famous for its amazingly rich and diverse fossil record. The country’s rocks document more than 3.5 billion years of life on Earth: ancient forms of bacterial life, the emergence of life onto land, the evolution of seed-producing plants, reptiles, dinosaurs and mammals – and humanity.

On 21 November 2022, Rhodes University said goodbye to its retirees at a special tree planting celebration event hosted on the Barratt Theatre Complex’s lawns.

South Africa’s population is urbanising at a rapid pace. The sheer rate of change poses challenges to planning for sustainable and liveable cities.

Many universities expend vast sums of money to improve their place on the rankings. And they make strategic decisions that favour rankings placement over transformation.

Drug-resistant infections caused by the misuse of antibiotic treatments killed over 1.2 million people worldwide in 2019. Without global action, this silent pandemic is projected to lead to 10 million deaths every year by 2050. People living in low-to-middle-income countries with limited access to new and effective antibiotics will be most affected.

Writing a thesis is tough, but as many students can attest to, explaining it to the world can be just as difficult. Last week, the Centre for Postgraduate Studies (CPGS) hosted an awards ceremony for its internal #3MinuteThesis (#3MT) competition.

The police-catch-punish approach neglects to address plagiarists’ misunderstanding of what higher education is all about, says Sioux McKenna.

Durban theatre company, Empatheatre, performed its play ‘Lalela Ulwandle’ at COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh on 14 November. The intention of the cast and crew was to place an ‘acupuncture point’ within COP27 decision-making and spark deeper consideration of grassroots coastal realities of the climate crisis.

This week, Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sizwe Mabizela, warmly welcomed 81 new staff members to Rhodes University. The 81 staff members started at the University from January until October 2022.

On Sunday, 13 November 2022, citizens of Makana filled the Cathedral of St Michael and St George to experience the newly-formed Makana Community Orchestra's inaugural concert.

Through his recently awarded PhD degree, Dr Angelius Kanyanga Liveve demonstrates how the indigenisation of the science curriculum through drums and dance can make for a more holistic understanding of the subject for African school-going children.

Dr Seeprarani Rath, who recently graduated with her PhD degree at Rhodes University, has been awarded a prestigious Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Toronto, Canada, to the value of approximately R800 000. Dr Rath, who submitted her doctoral thesis in 2019, was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Rhodes University Biopharmaceutics Research Institute (BRI) until recently.

No matter the circumstances and challenges, informal traders were able to parlay the Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant into supporting and even in some cases, growing their businesses, write Senzelwe Mthembu, Sophie Plagerson, Laura Alfers, Mike Rogan and Lauren Graham.

Supervised by Associate Professor Eduard Jordaan, Gemma-Mae Hartley recently graduated with a Master of Arts degree at the October graduation ceremonies. Her tertiary journey began with uncertainty and after changing her degree multiple times, Hartley eventually found her calling in Political and International Studies.

Education should be at the forefront of the country to achieve all the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These were the sentiments shared by Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sizwe Mabizela during yesterday’s site visit by Nedbank for an update on the bridging programme they support through the Nedbank Eyethu Community Trust.

A recent international scholarship information session had Eden Grove Blue lecture theatre filled to capacity, showing Rhodes University students' interest in exploring opportunities abroad.

Recently graduated with her PhD, Dr Yolande Ikala Openda, is a Rhodes university PhD science graduate in Chemistry.

His love for science as a young boy has paid off for Mbulelo Jokazi, who recently graduated with a Master of Science degree at the Rhodes University October graduation ceremonies.

The Rhodes University Division of Student Affairs (DSA), in collaboration with the Health Care Centre (HCC), held a breakfast at the Oppidan Dining Hall on 21 October 2022 to raise breast cancer awareness.

Nine years of consistent hard work and dedication have finally turned a dream into a reality for Dr Mikaela Oosthuizen. She finally received her PhD in Media studies from Rhodes university at the October graduation ceremony.

Rhodes University academic, administrative, and support staff recently gathered at the Senior Common Room to celebrate those who have been in service at the University for 30, 35 and 40 years.

Earlier this month, the International Library for African Music (ILAM) received a long-anticipated visit from the Acting Director-General of Arts and Culture, Vusithemba Ndima.

The Centre for Social Development (CSD), situated at Rhodes University, hosted a graduation ceremony at the 1820 Settlers’ Monument on 10 October, for 93 candidates who were awarded a National Diploma in Early Childhood Education (ECD).

Two academics from Rhodes University, Distinguished Professor at the Environmental Learning Research Centre, Professor Heila Lotz-Sisitka and Computer Science Lecturer Dr Dane Brown, were inaugurated as Members of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) at the annual Awards Ceremony. The two academics were among the 29 scholars and scientists that ASSAf inaugurated.

The Kenya High Commission Education Attaché, Mr Adan Mohamed Ibrahim, accompanied by Ms Ditlalane Mapadimeng, visited Rhodes University recently as part of a national mission.

For the recently held October graduations at Rhodes University, two PhD graduates were gifted gowns from well-respected academics in their respective fields.

After giving up his high school career and joining the struggle, former Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) underground operative Mzimasi Hala found the courage to complete his studies and acquire his master’s degree in history.

Rhodes University’s director of communications and advancement, Luzuko Jacobs, was among those who acquired their hard-earned doctorates at the university’s graduation ceremony on Friday.

On Tuesday, 04 October, the Rhodes Business School (RBS) held its 8th Annual Archbishop Thabo Makgoba Development Trust (ATMDT) Lecture on Values-Based Leadership. The School hosted the CEO of Business Leadership South Africa, Ms Busisiwe Mavuso as guest lecturer.

Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sizwe Mabizela, last week hosted a legacy luncheon for the University bequestors at the Lagoon Beach Hotel, Cape Town

Our Rhodes University Community Engagement student volunteers work tirelessly and selflessly to uplift the community through mentoring, early childhood education, engaged citizenry and social change. Meet Takudzwa Makuwa, a student leader for the BuddingQ Volunteering Programme – and hear about what inspires him.

In its October postgraduate graduation, Rhodes University will bestow an honour of Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) on journalist and anti-apartheid activist, Thenjiwe Mtintso. Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sizwe Mabizela said the honour was in recognition and celebration of Mtintso’s long and sustained contribution as a dedicated freedom fighter and a committed gender activist.

On Thursday, 06 October 2022, the Rhodes University community celebrated the achievements of some of its most brilliant students in various academic, leadership, sporting, and cultural fields. The Rhodes University Top 100 Awards were established in 2009 and were introduced as a tool to honour and celebrate student excellence.

The seventh edition of NORRAG Special Issue (NSI) entitled “Education in Times of Climate Change” is published and now available. Produced in partnership with the Rhodes University Environmental Learning Research Centre (ELRC), the journal was launched on 6 October by NORRAG in an online webinar to an expansive audience.

The Rhodes University Community Engagement Awards saw several inspiring individuals and groups rightfully honoured for their selfless contributions to creating a better society for all.

On 27 September 2022, Rhodes African Studies Centre (RASC) hosted a book launch in the Humanities seminar room and online. One of the editors, Professor Kirk Helliker was present at the Centre, and the other editors and contributors of the book joined online. He also chaired the launch on behalf of the Dean of Humanities and Head of the RASC, Professor Enocent Msindo.

During Rhodes University’s reunion cocktail event with its alumni in Durban last night, Vice-Chancellor Professor Sizwe Mabizela made an unprecedented move when he paid homage to South African media. The cocktail was held at Cuba Lounge, Moses Mabhida stadium, to reunite Rhodes University alumni through social engagement. However, in the presence of Durban-based media, Professor Mabizela went off script and called for the protection of media freedom.

On 15 September, the Rhodes University Political & International Studies Department, in conjunction with Nelson Mandela University's Centre for Women & Gender Studies, the Political Sciences Department of the University of Pretoria and the University of Cape Town's Historical and Political Studies Department, hosted a forum titled "Women & 20 Years of the African Union".

On 28 September 2022, the Division of Student Affairs (DSA), the Disability Committee and the Equity and Institutional Culture Office at Rhodes University hosted a seminar on invisible disabilities. The seminar gave a platform to engage different stakeholders on matters affecting students and staff living with disabilities, with a particular emphasis on ‘invisible disabilities’.

The month of October is usually reserved for graduating Masters and PhD students, however, this year, Rhodes University will add a series of graduation celebration ceremonies for graduates who had to undergo virtual graduations due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Four decades ago, a group of six first-year art students from Rhodes University decided that they would get together to exhibit in 10 years' time.

The first direct evidence of orcas killing white sharks in South Africa has been captured by both a helicopter and drone pilot, and a new paper published today in The Ecological Society of America’s journal Ecology presents both sets of video footage, which provide new evidence that orcas are capable of pursuing, capturing and incapacitating white sharks. One predation event was filmed on a drone, but the researchers believe that three other sharks may also have been killed.

In commemorating its 50th anniversary in 2022, Rhodes University’s School of Journalism and Media Studies (JMS) is honouring 50 of its most distinguished alumni across the globe. Seven alumni were honoured at a Gala Dinner hosted by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sizwe Mabizela, at Lagoon Beach Hotel in Cape Town last night. These are Audrey Brown, Rebecca Davis, Ray Hartle, Leonie Joubert, Daneel Knoetze, Karyn Maughan, Minoshni Pillay and Professor Alison Gillwald.

The evening of 23 September 2022 was a significant one for the Rhodes University calendar as it marked the inauguration of the incoming Student Representative Council for the year 2023.

In a transforming society, the way we think about teaching economics needs to change. Economics lecturer, Mr David Fryer, won the Vice-Chancellor's Distinguished Teaching Award in 2020 and presented his accompanying lecture last week, focusing on the potential to reconfigure undergraduate economics so that it is more in touch with the realities of students and the futures they face.

As a Heritage Month celebration, the Albany Museum hosted a public lecture on an intellectual giant of the Eastern Cape, John Knox Bokwe. The lecture, presented by the Head of Classical Studies at Rhodes University, Dr Hleze Kunju, also recognised the centenarian year since Bokwe's passing.

Rhodes University’s A team has made history by clinching the provincial chess league trophy over the weekend. The five-member team played their last game at Walter Sisulu University’s (WSU) Komani campus against WSU. Captain and Chairperson of Rhodes University Chess Club, Lucas Mnguni, attributed the win to the team’s dedication, hunger, and hard work.

In collaboration with Company Wellness Solutions (CWS), Rhodes University hosted a two-day staff event last week, followed by a fun walk on Friday. The event's main goal was to educate employees about the RUWELL Employee Wellness App and how they can benefit.

Ensuring access to quality higher education is central to growing and strengthening South Africa's democratic project. This week, Rhodes University hosts a panel from the Council on Higher Education (CHE), which is conducting institutional audits of all public and private universities in the country.

Our Rhodes University Community Engagement student volunteers work tirelessly and selflessly to uplift the community through mentoring, early childhood education, engaged citizenry and social change. Meet Jodi-Anne Rooi, a student leader in the 9/10ths Matric Mentoring Programme – and hear about what inspires her.

Ghana’s introduction of a a 1.5% tax on mobile money transactions in May 2022 has been watched closely by policymakers across Africa. The proponents of the electronic transaction levy (e-levy) argue that taxes on mobile money — commonly referred to in Ghana as MoMo — present an opportunity for cash-strapped governments to raise funds in the complex post-pandemic context.

On 13 September 2022, colleagues, Heads of Departments, Deans and students alike gathered in Eden Grove Blue to honour Professor Philani Mashazi's 2021 VC's Distinguished Research Award. Professor Mashazi of the Rhodes University Chemistry Department received recognition for his significant research strides within his field.

Rhodes University Library has initiated the development of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) webpage. It is an online portal project designed to provide the Rhodes University community and the world at large with access to the multidisciplinary research that the Rhodes University research community has conducted

Rhodes University senior lecturer at the Philosophy department, Dr Lindsay Kelland, was featured in the Sunday World’s phenomenal women feature for 2022.

Rhodes University recently welcomed new Student Life, Support and Development Manager, Saphu’lwandisile Vika. Vika is no stranger to higher education as he brings a wealth of experience from the sector.

The Old Rhodian Union selection committee has chosen four worthy recipients of Rhodes University's Distinguished Alumni Award 2022: Million Belay Ali, Ann Burroughs, Kathleen Heugh and Raphael Tshimanga.

Esteemed professors, family, colleagues and friends of Professor Horst Kaiser recently gathered at the Eden Grove Blue lecture theatre for his long-awaited lecture that was meant to take place last year but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On 7 September 2022, the Rhodes University Deputy Vice Chancellors, Faculty of Law staff, fellow academics, students, family and friends of Professor Graham Glover gathered in the Eden Grove Blue Lecture Theatre for his inaugural lecture entitled “‘Please Call Me’ Agent: The Taxonomy of Agency Law in South Africa.”

At the Basic Education Sector Lekgotla in 2019, President Cyril Ramaphosa said, “We need a functional leadership and accountability system that involves the school management teams, the teachers, the representative councils of learners, the school governing bodies and the community at large.

Rhodes Music Radio (RMR) is fully back on air after having had a reduced programming schedule since December 2021. The newly-appointed Station Manager, Unathi Koboka, officially relaunched the station with her new team last week. RMR is a campus-based community radio station located in the heart of Rhodes University.

Rhodes University Sports Administration has had a facelift recently. According to the Sports Administration Manager, Frans Mamabolo, this was necessitated by the fact that the infrastructure is as old as the University.

Postgraduates from around the country and the world gathered on 02 September 2022 to take part in a panel hosted by the Centre for Postgraduate Studies (CPGS) of Rhodes University.

On 01 September 2022, the annual Rhodes Postgraduate Conference kicked off with a discussion on how we can ensure that knowledge created in higher education institutions crosses borders and is utilised to address the needs of the people and the planet.

On Saturday 03 September 2022, Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor Professor Sizwe Mabizela officially handed over a hood and gown to Dr Latozi Madosini Mpahleni, in full view of Dr Mpahleni’s family and the community at Mkhankatho village in Libode, outside Mthatha.

Two Rhodes University Honours graduates, Kristen Paige Burgess and Emily Ann Webster, were awarded the Patrick and Margaret Flanagan Scholarship this year (2022). Burgess is currently enrolled for a Master's in Chemistry at Rhodes University and Webster for a Master's in English Literature at the University of Cape Town (UCT).

Rhodes University School of Journalism and Media Studies TV Lecturer and PhD candidate Thandeka Gqubule-Mbeki has been appointed to President Cyril Ramaphosa's National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council.

Much of Southern Africa's documented history is dominated by the written records of the colonial project. As a result, the region's history is either murky or neglected. But Rhodes University’s Library Services, through its Cory Library branch and in collaboration with the University of Cape Town (UCT), plans to change this through the Five Hundred Years Archive (FHYA) project. The project seeks to make diverse historical materials available to researchers.

On 25 August 2022, the Rhodes University community and public at large were invited to the fourth virtual public lecture in which the Registrar of Rhodes University, Professor Adéle Moodly, reflected on the advancement of women in leadership in higher education institutions. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation Professor Peter Clayton, welcomed everyone to the public lecture.

The University of Bayreuth and four African universities will continue their successful cooperation in the Cluster of Excellence "Africa Multiple" in the next three years. High-ranking representatives of the five partner universities signed an agreement to this effect today in Lagos. The University of Lagos (Nigeria), Moi University (Eldoret, Kenya), Université Joseph Ki-Zerbo (Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso) and Rhodes University (Makhanda, South Africa) will thus continue to strengthen and advance joint projects in the fields of research and knowledge transfer with their "African Cluster Centers (ACCs)".

Following two preliminary exclusive screenings at Rhodes University and the University of Fort Hare, the 65-minute-long documentary film, Intellectual Giants of the Eastern Cape, officially premiered at the 25th Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF) in June 2022.

When six former Rhodes University fine arts classmates decided to revive their love of printmaking six years after graduating, they formed a collective and mounted a life-changing art exhibition at the National Arts Festival in Makhanda.

The Rhodes University Chamber Choir (RUCC), conducted by Mr Kutlwano Kepadisa, are currently on their first tour since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. They are visiting Johannesburg and Bloemfontein between 19 and 23 August 2022.

On 16 August 2022, Associate Professor in Chemistry Kevin Alan Lobb delivered a lecture titled "Software-based chemistry and its ideal placement in remote and post-COVID learning". The lecture explored teaching strategies that assisted students during remote and online teaching and how they remain useful now that in-person instruction has resumed.

On 12 August 2022, Nombulelo Gongqa, a Rhodes University alumna and the current Director of Organisational Change/Transformation at Diocesan School for Girls (DSG), hosted a conversation titled "Work of the Heart" for the postgraduates of the Organisational Development course at Rhodes University.

Manager of Academic Administration Suzette Flanagan presented the effect of horses on people's well-being in her motivational address at the annual Registrar's Division Women's Day event on 10 August 2022. This event recognises women's strengths in adversity and is done in commemoration of women and girl-children who continue to experience the injustices of a patriarchal system.

The draft university policy is not about the public sector at all. Instead it sets out the future designations that will be available in the private higher education sector. It attends to the demand by private institutions that they too should be able to call themselves ‘universities’.

Situated for years in full view in the Alumni House foyer, a historical Visitors’ Book has been available for students, parents, alumni, and visitors to comment in and leave their details. Sadly, due to the Protection of Personal information Act (POPI), this book will no longer be able to be used for its intended purpose.

Proctoring software monitors a student’s computer or phone while they write exams. These programs have been around for some time but became ubiquitous during online learning in the pandemic.

Rhodes University constituencies converged at Mpekweni Beach Resort in Port Alfred from 12-14 August 2022 to deliberate and review the current Institutional Development Plan (IDP).

It has become a tradition, started by Rhodes University’s Registrar, Professor Adéle Moodly, to host a Women’s Day seminar within her Division and to honour women staff. This year, the Registrar’s Division flipped the script and celebrated her instead.

Associate Professor Susi Vetter from the Department of Botany was recently elected President of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa (GSSA). The GSSA elects a new incoming President every year who serves on their Council for the following three years (as Vice-President, President, and Immediate Past President, respectively).

Rhodes University Master of Science student, Ariana Watkins, will fly the Rhodes University flag in London after she was selected for a studentship at the Francis Crick Institute through University College London (UCL).

One of the sources of social discontent in post-apartheid South Africa is the legacy of white racism. This toxic legacy is evident in racialised poverty and inequality.

Rhodes University is committed to providing a safe and conducive environment for its students.

Celebrations and ululation were the order of the day on Friday, 5 August 2022 as Rhodes University Sports Administration cut the purple ribbon to officially re-open the swimming pool outside Bantu Steve Biko Union Building.

The notion of ‘six degrees of separation’ is a fundamental network analysis concept in social sciences, in which persons who are quite removed from one another are linked by a chain of, at most, six shared acquaintances. Therefore, we find ourselves using the phrase "Such a small world" to express our astonishment when we discover that we share a friend with another person. Beyond that, would it not be even more astonishing to consider amino acids as social groups of people with different roles and interactions? What's in store if proteins mutate or a few amino acids change?

Distinguished academics, lecturers, Deans, DVCs, and other special guests gathered to hear the inaugural lecture delivered by Professor Joanna Dames late last month. The mood was celebratory as Dames stood to give her first lecture as a full Professor at Rhodes University.

Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sizwe Mabizela, today officiated the sod-turning ceremony to mark the commencement of a R90 million state-of-the-art building that will house a global Institute for Nanotechnology Innovation (INI).

Rhodes University Law Faculty on Wednesday hosted a public lecture by former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships) at the University of Ibadan, distinguished visiting Professor Oluyemisi Bamgbose.

Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sizwe Mabizela, welcomed 61 graduates to campus this week as they joined the University as part of the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI) programme.

Last week, Rhodes University hosted a two-day colloquium on Language Policy Framework for Public Institutions of Higher Education. Various academics from different departments and external speakers converged at the Amazwi South African museum of Literature. According

A vibrant and diverse group of professors, linguistic experts, students, and other members of the Rhodes University community converged on Friday at the Amazwi South African Museum of Literature.

A delightful evening filled with laughter and smiles, with everyone interacting and conversing with one another. This week, Rhodes University hosted a dinner in honour of the visiting African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) special guest, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships at the University of Ibadan: Professor Oluyemisi Bamgbose and ARUA Secretary General, Professor Ernest Aryeetey.

As part of its continuing transformation agenda, Rhodes University has renamed two of its residences after two of South Africa’s struggle icons - Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu and Dr Hugh Masekela.

Julia Arbuckle, a Rhodes University Master’s student in Fine Art, has been awarded the Javier Rosón Prize for her work entitled “Root/Rot: The Family Bible.

The month of July is significant in the global calendar as the world celebrates the life and legacy of the late great leader, Nelson Mandela. As an annual celebration, the United Nations officially declared Nelson Mandela International Day in November 2009. Since then, every 18 July, Mandela's birthday, people from all walks of life are rallied to action to recognise their power to make a difference in the lives of those around them. In commemorating this day, Rhodes University, in partnership with Standard Bank's Tutuwa Community Foundation, hosted a celebration at Khutliso Daniels Secondary School to recognise the Bank's significant contributions to uplifting education in the Eastern Cape. The School is one of 67 schools that received brightly painted water tanks from Standard Bank for Mandela Day.

Taverns are a sphere of the broader daily ‘normalised’ structural violence in townships. This type of violence happens on a daily basis, if not every weekend. The only difference is that the current high number of deaths happened in one day.

The late Nelson Mandela is celebrated as a leading figure of the liberation struggle against Apartheid, renowned for a morality always turned towards empathy, forgiveness, and a commitment to the freedom and equality of all.

Rhodes University Community Engagement (RUCE) joined millions of people worldwide on Monday in celebrating and reflecting on the heroic efforts of the late Former President of South Africa and anti-apartheid activist, Dr Nelson Mandela. RUCE celebrated Nelson Mandela International Day, which falls on his birthday every year.

Masters in Economics student Claire McCann was recently selected as one of thirty students to attend a highly competitive, fully-funded economics training programme.

Rhodes University’s Department of Political and International Studies hosted its Teach-in seminars at the Barratt Lecture theatre this week.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict has dominated the news and is having global ramifications. This week’s Politics Teach-In, hosted by the Department of Politics and International Relations at Rhodes University, focuses on the ins and outs of this war. The seminar series began with insights from Associate Professor Martha Bradley from the Department of Public Law at the University of Pretoria. She looked at how Vladimir Putin has justified the invasion and how this holds up against international law.

Rhodes University Honours in Philosophy student Jesse Ferguson and 17 other South Africans have been chosen for the Abe Bailey travel bursary this year.

Several alumni from Rhodes University are among this year’s Mail & Guardian top 200 Young South Africans. Every year, the Mail & Guardian celebrates the most interesting and talented young South Africans under 35, who have shown themselves to be leaders.

Rhodes University New Generation of Academics Programme (nGAP) lecturer Yolani Ndamase recently got back from New York where she spent a year on a Fulbright Visiting Fellowship.

Dean of Science Professor Tony Booth officially launched the Rhodes University Transient Array Radio Telescope (TART) at the Waainek (Makhanda) site last week.

Africa has great potential for drug discovery. The continent has natural resources, indigenous knowledge and human capacity. And it has the need: it bears more than 20% of the global disease burden. There are many internationally recognised African scientists undertaking cutting-edge research. But a lack of resources makes it difficult to conduct world-class science. A team of African biochemists, cell biologists and bioinformaticians shares some thoughts on what it would take to establish an Africa-wide drug discovery ecosystem. The authors are the key members of the COVIDRUG-AFRICA Consortium – the consortium for rapid COVID-19 drug development in Africa.

Four Rhodes University professors recently attended a project meeting for the EU-funded Creating Postgraduate Collaborations (CPC) in Kisumu, Kenya, together with representatives from eight other universities included in the project.

The UK government’s announcement of a new work visa option aimed at attracting top graduates has elicited some backlash because the list of eligible institutions features no universities from Africa, Latin America or South Asia. The Conversation Africa’s Nontobeko Mtshali asked Orla Quinlan, Director of Internationalisation at Rhodes University in South Africa, to share her thoughts on the implications such visa programmes have for international integration and intercultural efforts in higher education.

Professor Justin Jonas, a much-acknowledged architect of the international Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project, recently gave a talk at his old school, Muir College in Uitenhage, to about 150 Grade 12 science learners from the Gqeberha/Kariega area.

Rhodes University hosted its first Thomas Alty & Vice-Chancellor's Awards in three years last week, where a total of 111 staff members were recognised for earning an educational qualification during 2019, 2020, or 2021.

Professor Sioux McKenna is a devoted researcher who has consistently sought ways to improve the Higher Education system. Later this year, she will continue her journey as Visiting Professor at the highly esteemed Centre for International Higher Education (CIHE) at Boston College in the United States of America.

"Eskom” must be one of the most hated names in South Africa, a reputation that has only been entrenched after another run of load-shedding in May and indications of more to come as winter deepens.

As Rhodes University increasingly engages with intra-Africa mobility programmes, issues regarding the equivalency of qualifications, credit transfers and joint degrees are becoming more prevalent. A hybrid workshop was recently hosted at the Environmental Learning Research Centre (ELRC), where relevant institutional leads at Rhodes University had the opportunity to share experiences with European Union (EU) colleagues through identifying gaps and sharing lessons from implementing such programmes.

Last month, the Rhodes University Career Centre hosted a Computer Science and Information Systems career fair on campus. A full day was dedicated to student and potential employer interaction. The four companies that exhibited were Deloitte, Open Box Software, KPMG, and Singular Systems.

In keeping with the traditions of Rhodes University, the inaugural lecture of Professor Julie Coetzee was held on 2 June 2022 in Eden Grove Red Lecture Theatre to honour her achievement of the title of Professor. There she presented her body of work and the most recent results of her research on the invasive water plant species Pontederia crassipes, commonly known as water hyacinth, and her efforts to understand and control it.

Dr Carol Leff’s ‘The Afropolitan Flâneur in Literature’ marks the third book by Intersecting Diasporas Group (IDG) members launched this year.

Rhodes University has well-established mobility programmes with Pädagogische Hochschule PHBern and Pädagogische Hochschule Luzern in Switzerland. The programme allows Swiss education students to spend six months to a year at Rhodes University on a credit-bearing study abroad experience. In return Rhodes University Bachelor of Education degree (BEd) and Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) students get the opportunity to do a component of their teaching practice in Switzerland.

Rhodes University's Anthropology Department recently hosted one of its 'Anthropology in the Making' Seminar series events to introduce orangcosong, an art collective from Japan, to students, academics and the community.

A staff member and two students from Rhodes University’s International Library of African Music (ILAM) will be stars of their own show during the National Arts Festival (NAF) in Makhanda this year.

Rhodes University is pleased to announce that the applicants in the matter of Makhanda Against Mandates & Others v Rhodes University (Case no.: 124/2022) have elected to abandon their application in regard to the University's vaccine mandate.

Concluding Rhodes University's International Week (23 May-28 May) activities was the Postdoc Story Circles and Brunch Reception at Steve Biko Dining Hall on 28 May 2022. The Postdocs trickled in and began networking just before the official opening by the Director of Internationalisation, Ms Orla Quinlan.

In collaboration with the Centre of Postgraduate Studies (CPGS) at Rhodes University, the International Office recently hosted a postgraduate panel discussion titled, "Choices, benefits and lessons learnt from educational migration".

The Ukraine-Russia conflict has not only devasted many parts of Ukraine but is also having ripple effects throughout the world. The challenges it presents to Africa are particular to its vulnerabilities. At an event hosted by the Internationalisation Office, the Law Faculty, and the Africa Centre, academics from Rhodes University discussed how the war would affect the African continent.

Throughout International Week at Rhodes University, the International Office collaborated with various departments and hosted events on campus to promote Internationalisation. On 27 May 2022, the International Office collaborated with the Geography Department to host a Geography quiz at the Rat and Parrot restaurant.

The Rhodes University Internationalisation Office announced four individual and four collective Internationalisation Awardees during its International Week.

On 25 May, Rhodes University joined the rest of the continent in the commemoration of Africa Day.

On 25 May, otherwise known as Africa Day, Rhodes University’s Department of Music and Musicology hosted Professor Kofi Agawu, Distinguished Professor at The Graduate Center, City University of New York and Adjunct Professor in the Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana, Legon.

As part of Africa Month this May, the Rhodes University International Office has been hosting several activities during its International Week, running from 22 to 28 May. The Office has been raising awareness about nutrition and food security, the African Union’s theme for 2022, through a Makhanda-wide collaborative food drive.

Over the last decade, biological control has significantly reduced the negative impacts of invasive alien plants in the country in an environmentally friendly and sustainable way.

Rhodes University Chess Club is proving to be a force to be reckoned with after securing two medals at the recent regional Nelson Mandela Bay Chess trials.

“What is a story? A story has a beginning, middle and an end. A story takes you into a different world and paints a picture. A good story contains a moral lesson, loveable characters; characters the audience can relate to and resonate with.”

With the fifth COVID-19 infection wave now upon us, there is no better time to get your vaccine booster. But what is a booster? And why do you need it? We asked Professor Rosemary Dorrington, virologist at Rhodes University and member of the Provincial COVID-19 Expert Panel, all the essential questions about boosters.

In an effort to create awareness and promote mental healthcare around Makhanda, Rhodes University’s Psychology department has embarked on a roadshow to engage the community.

As per tradition, Rhodes University recently hosted the 2022 VC's Distinguished Community Engagement Award Lecture by Professor Rod Walker.

It is mandatory for each South African institution to develop its own policy and plan on internationalisation two years after the Policy Framework for Internationalisation of Higher Education in South Africa was published on 6 November 2020, and at a time when international student numbers are decreasing.

Rhodes University's Community Engagement (RUCE) division plays a significant role in the wider Makhanda through its various projects. But lesser known is the long-lasting impact it has on its volunteers. To launch RUCE's Community Engagement Week for 2022, previous Student Volunteer of the Year Award winners took part in a panel discussion. Looking back on their volunteering experience, they reflected on how it has contributed to their personal and career development.

After two isolating pandemic years, the Rhodes University Anthropology Department's Postgraduate Diploma in Heritage Management (PDHM) saw its first in-person graduates this year.

The Rhodes University Department of Anthropology recently hosted a talk with anthropology Senior Lecturer Dr Dominique Santos, Heritage Management Lecturer Dr Pascall Taruvinga, and seasoned Content Director and Producer, Ayanda Mncwabe-Mama.

This year’s graduation was bursting with accolades and festivities as Rhodes University held sit-down ceremonies on campus for the first time in two years. Among the honours was the conferral of the Vice-Chancellor’s Book Award to Political and International Studies Lecturer, Dr Bongani Nyoka.

When South African writer Antjie Krog was just 17, she wrote a poem for her school magazine which was shocking enough to upset Kroonstad High’s parents. The furore caught the attention of the Sunday newspapers, who descended on the town in the Free State province.

In the days Sisipho Hamlomo attended school without shoes or a jacket, he never imagined that he would be a master’s graduate one day.

On 05 May 2022, in commemoration of World Press Freedom Day (03 May), the Rhodes University School of Journalism and Media Studies (JMS) hosted a discussion under the theme “Reclaiming African Journalism in the Public Interest”. This discussion also formed part of the School’s 50th Anniversary this year. The panellists offered enlightening insights and solutions to address the current plights of the profession.

During the recent Rhodes University graduation ceremonies, Sandile Phakathi was conferred her PhD through the Department of Economics and Economics History, where she is also a lecturer in the New Generation of Academics Program (nGAP).

As per tradition, Rhodes University recently hosted an inaugural hybrid lecture by Professor Uchenna Okeja, titled ‘What is Justice’. Due to the large volume of numbers and diversity of the audience, this auspicious event represented not only academics but also students, colleagues, family, and the public.

As part of a series of leadership conversations, Rhodes University’s Alumni Relations Office, Student Representative Council President Mr Botlhale Modisaotsile and Vice-President Ms Tinashe Hlako held an Inaugural Young Alumni Leadership Conversations with Mr Charles Faul and Ms Palesa Mcimbi in celebration of Freedom Month.

If there is one musician as commonly associated as Fela Anikulapo-Kuti with the West African musical movements Afrobeat and Afrobeats (never mind Afro-Blues and Afro-Soul), this is the preserve of Orlando Julius Ekemode. Given Fela’s immense stature it would seem impossible to speak of another musician from whom he gained musical direction. Yet, one must, in the case of his fellow multi-instrumentalist Orlando Julius.

Global maize production is worth billions of dollars annually and is key to global food security because it’s a staple food for billions of people. Most maize production relies on natural rainfall, making it vulnerable to changing rainfall patterns.

World Press Freedom Day 2022 (3 May) takes place at a time when the world is caught in an information war.

Despite the challenges that come with two young children and funding constraints, six years after embarking on her PhD journey, Pindiwe Ntloko can now proudly put the title ‘Dr’ before her name.

During the latest graduation ceremonies, a special parallel event was held in which Ms Gabriella Solomons was awarded a bursary contribution from infectious diseases epidemiologists Professors Quarraisha and Salim Abdool Karim for graduating as the top microbiology student in 2021.

As per its time-honoured tradition, Rhodes University held the inaugural lecture of Professor Helena van Coller on 26 April 2022, after she received her status as a full professor. Inaugural lectures serve as a recognition and celebration of induction and a platform for professors to showcase their scholarly contributions to their field.

Dwarf galaxies are known to be pristine probes of the early Universe, especially when they are isolated and not interacting with massive galaxies. Observations with the MeerKAT radio telescope of Wolf–Lundmark–Melotte Galaxy (WLM), an archetype of such a galaxy, have revealed its strong interaction with the intergalactic medium.

Rhodes University Council has elected the Executive Director at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls (OWLAG), Ms Gugu Ndebele, its new deputy chairperson.

No one who has ever received a degree would say it came without obstacles. For some, however, those obstacles take the form of mountains. Through his journey of true grit and determination, Mr Siya Sibindi, who graduated with his Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the recent Rhodes University 2022 graduation ceremonies, completed his degree despite near-impossible challenges.

For the second consecutive year, over 50 Gadra Matric School (GMS) alumni graduated from Rhodes University in a single graduation ceremony, which marks a significant milestone in the journey to transform education in Makhanda.

The Shona and the Ndebele are Zimbabwe’s two most dominant ethnic groups. Explaining the ever-present tension between them, historian Sabelo J. Ndlovu-Gatsheni points to the abuse of the post-colonial state by the ruling Shona-dominated government “in its drive to destroy Ndebele particularism”. He explains, “This sets in motion the current Matabeleland politics of alienation, resentment and grievance.”

Rhodes University ombud, Advocate Les Roberts’ contract has been extended by Council from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2023.

Bite by bite, the army of tiny goggas that have been deliberately released at the polluted Hartbeespoort Dam to tackle the infestation of water hyacinth are winning the battle.

Rhodes University and its UK trust are set to establish a premier, high-value Ally Weakley Memorial Scholarship ahead of the 30th anniversary of the death of the legendary sportsman, teacher, and lawyer, Alastair Weakley.

Cancer incidence in South Africa and globally is on the rise and it is predicted that the burden of non-communicable diseases such as cancer will overtake that of infectious diseases in Africa in the next decade. In the Eastern Cape, in particular, cervical cancer has a high incidence rate among rural women, who are underrepresented in terms of medical research and genetic analyses. Rhodes University Lecturer and Researcher in Biochemistry, Dr Jo-Anne de la Mare, hopes to change this. The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) has awarded her with funding made available by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), through the Strategic Health Innovation Partnerships (SHIP) programme, to study cervical cancer based on tumour samples from Eastern Cape women.

At Rhodes University’s morning graduation session today, the festivities were heightened as Ambassador Lindiwe Mabuza’s honorary Doctor of Literature (DLitt) was posthumously conferred, following the decision of the Rhodes University Senate and Council.

It is one thing to read about great historical moments in history books, but to be within history, as a critical participant, is something else altogether. In a graduation event full of 'firsts' for Rhodes University, the 09h30 ceremony today showed Rhodes University alumnus Professor Steve Olivier capping honorary doctorate recipient Lord Peter Hain.

The School of Journalism and Media Studies (JMS) will mark its 50th anniversary by honouring 50 of its most distinguished alumni. The first ten will be celebrated at a graduation ball on Friday 8 April. This graduation season is a return to in-person events for Rhodes University and newly-minted journalism graduates will be capped at three ceremonies on Thursday and Friday.

At its graduation ceremony on 08 April 2022, Rhodes University will confer a degree of Doctor of Literature (DLitt) (honoris causa) on the late cultural activist, diplomat and Ambassador Lindiwe Mabuza.

On 31 March 2022, the South African Cultural Observatory (SACO) released its 2022 Economic Mapping Report of the Cultural and Creative Industries to a worldwide audience. This is the first comprehensive study of the contribution of the cultural and creative sector to the economy in the post COVID-19 environment.

Another Grammy Awards season and there is a growing list of African nominees. For African music enthusiasts, it is heartwarming that recognition is being accorded to practitioners in the Afrobeats space.

At its graduation ceremony on 06 April 2022, Rhodes University will confer a degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD) (honoris causa) on poet, award-winning anthologist and short storyteller, Professor Nomakhosazana Xaba.

At its graduation ceremony on 08 April 2022, Rhodes University will confer a degree of Doctor of Science (DSc) (honoris causa) on epidemiologist Professor Quarraisha Abdool Karim, who is well-known for her research on preventing HIV infection in adolescent girls and young women.

Rhodes University officially unveiled its state-of-the-art X-ray facility yesterday, which will better prepare its science students for possible future professions.

On its graduation ceremony on 06 April 2022, Rhodes University will confer a degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD) (honoris causa) on activist, politician, and author The Right Honourable Lord Hain of Neath.

Rhodes University notes the judgment of the Supreme Court of Appeal handed down today in the case of Ms Yolanda Dyantyi.

Following two years of virtual graduation ceremonies due to COVID-19, Rhodes University is to hold physical ceremonies for over 2000 graduands from 06 April, with numerous firsts in the line-up.

Last week, Rhodes Business School (RBS) has launched the Entrepreneurial and Technological Empowerment Programme (ETEP).

On 15 March 2022, Kingswood College held its annual Neil Aggett memorial lecture, which was presented by Rhodes University honorary doctorate (2008) Jonathan Shapiro, also known by his pen name ‘Zapiro’.

The Rhodes University Faculty of Law kicked off its 2022 academic year by hosting a faculty opening event. The event was attended by staff, students and the guest of honour, Mr Mbuso Mtshali, an alumnus of the Rhodes University Law Faculty and the Head of Corporate Governance and Company Secretariate of Sanlam.

A long-serving Rhodes University Board of Governors member and Chairperson, Mr Mike Spicer, passed away this week.

Rhodes Business School has launched two programmes for Rhodes University staff members to better prepare and develop them in supervision and management roles.

It will be a spectacular weekend at Rhodes University from Friday, 04 March 2022 to Sunday 06 March 2022, when the opening games of the Varsity Shield take place at Rhodes University Great Field.

Professor Rod Walker from the Rhodes University Faculty of Pharmacy has been named the recipient of the prestigious 2021 Vice Chancellor’s Distinguished Award for Community Engagement. He describes this honour as “a wonderful recognition of the many who supported, facilitated and assisted in ensuring the success of the sanitiser project”.

In an article published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, Rhodes University PhD student Aviwe Matiwane shows, along with six other researchers, how colonial history and global economics distort our understanding of deep-time biodiversity.

A festive atmosphere and scenes of jubilation and excitement characterised the return of students and staff to campus at Rhodes University as hundreds of first year students reported for registration over the weekend. Returning students are expected back this week.

The South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) has released a new MeerKAT telescope image of the centre of our Galaxy, showing radio emission from the region with unprecedented clarity and depth. The international team behind the work is publishing the initial science highlights from this image in The Astrophysical Journal. The lead author, Ian Heywood, is a Rhodes University Visiting Professor, and the second author, Isabella Rammala, is a Rhodes University PhD student.

Rhodes University hosted a symposium to reflect on the two decades since the Language Policy for Higher Education (LPHE) was adopted in 2002.

Rhodes University congratulates the matric class of 2021 for showing their mettle as the future of humanity and making it against all odds in the face of unsettling circumstances wrought by the unpredictable COVID-19 pandemic during their critical milestone year.

The Rhodes University Enactus team recently reached the 2021 MTN ICT Challenge's finals. This was a unique competition and collaboration between Enactus and MTN to develop digital services to address socio-economic challenges in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Rhodes University student Marina Khoza, who will be graduating with a distinction in MSc (Botany) this year, was part of a team that won a $5000 cash prize for its Africa THINKS indigenous knowledge teaching solution at the Business of Conservation Conference (BCC) in Rwanda last year.

A group of radio astronomers led by the Italian National Institute of Astrophysics has conducted a multi-frequency and multi-band study of the Shapley Supercluster, where the formation of large structures is ongoing at the present cosmological age.

Prof Roy Sargeant, who was appointed Head of Speech and Drama at Rhodes University in 1973, passed away at the end of 2021. In addition to establishing the University's reputation as one of the premier drama training schools in South Africa, Prof Sargeant co-founded the National Arts Festival in 1974 with Prof Guy Butler. He was also integral to the creation of the Student Drama Festival and the Standard Bank Young Artists Awards.

A collaboration between Rhodes University astronomers, University of Cape Town (UCT) and Swinburne University of Technology (SUT) based in Melbourne, Australia, has resulted in a discovery of a mysterious chain of hydrogen gas clouds with the size of a massive galaxy through the South African MeerKAT radio telescope. The international team is led by an Astronomer from the Max-Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy and Rhodes University visiting Professor Gyula Józsa, SUT’s Professor Michelle Cluver, and Professor Thomas Jarrett from UCT.

South Africa’s coalition negotiations after the November 2021 election were full of unexpected plot twists. November’s news reporting reveals clear, almost cartoonish characterisations of our largest three parties emerging from a backdrop of extremely complex negotiations and a soap-opera-worthy web of love-hate relationships.

The word corruption has its roots in the Latin adjective corruptus which refers to something that is spoiled, corrupted or perverted. In South Africa, evidence of the perversion of public funds abounds. In his 2021 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement the country’s finance minister Enoch Godongwana warned that rampant corruption was a persistent issue draining public finances.

Rhodes University's Old Rhodian Golf Club hosted its first Old Rhodian Bursary Day since 2019, raising more than R80 000 recently.

Rhodes University hosted its fourth and final Leadership Conversation for the year, with its 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, Dr Roger Scoon, on 30 November 2021.

The Rhodes University community is saddened by the passing of Ambassador Lindiwe Mabuza, who died yesterday afternoon at the age of 83. A few months ago, the University Senate and Council voted to confer the degree of Doctor of Literature (D Litt) (honoris causa) on Ambassador Mabuza at the April 2022 graduation ceremonies.

In 2020, the Foundation for Human Rights and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA approached the Rhodes University Library to make accessible the Zietsman/Goniwe Inquest documentation, archived at the Cory Library for Humanities Research.

Claire McCann, a Rhodes University Community Engagement student leader and joint Honours in Economics and Politics student, has been granted a Southern African Rhodes Scholarship to complete her Masters degree at the University of Oxford in England.

Vaccines are ultimately the best way to ensure that we beat COVID-19, yet vaccine hesitancy remains a threat to protecting our community. In this series, Virologist at Rhodes University and member of the Provincial COVID-19 Expert Panel, Professor Rosemary Dorrington, addresses queries, fears, and misinformation.

As per its tradition, Rhodes University presented the inaugural lecture of Professor Kenneth Mlungisi Ngcoza last week. The hybrid lecture titled ‘From poverty to University: Journeys, Challenges and Opportunities’ welcomed guests who attended virtually and face-to-face.

Rhodes University’s Distinguished Professor Tebello Nyokong recently received an honorary Doctor of Science degree from her alma mater, McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, where she completed her MSc in Chemistry in 1981. This award marks her second international honorary doctorate and her fifth honorary degree overall.

Rhodes University, home to the oldest biotechnology academic programme in South Africa, boasts no less than seven graduate distinctions from the Biotechnology Innovation Centre this past October.

Siphumze Bani is a Rhodes University October 2021 graduate who started his journey at the University in 2013. He has now completed his Masters in Biotechnology (distinction) with an impressive thesis project on water desalination through the Rhodes University Biotechnology Innovation Centre (RUBIC).

After successfully incorporating a Mental Health and Wellbeing course as part of its first-year psychology curriculum, the Vice Chancellor’s Mental Health Task Team decided to cater for staff and academics and train them on Basic Counselling Skills.

Earlier this month, the University of Cape Town (UCT), along with Rhodes University, co-hosted the Association of College and University Housing Officers International – South African Chapter’s (ACUHO-I SAC) annual conference.

Claims and counter claims regarding an alleged sexual assault incident involving a lecturer and a student recently featured prominently on various media platforms.

The Rhodes Business School will add a beneficial module to its full-time Postgraduate Diploma in Enterprise Management (PGDip EM) programme next year to better equip entrepreneurs with technology skills for successful business projects.

As part of a series of its leadership conversations, Rhodes University’s President of Convocation, Dr Michele Ruiters held a conversation with the 2021 Distinguished Alumni Awardee Ms Heloise Henning Emdon.

An international team, led by Rhodes University Research Fellow, Dr Kenda Knowles, has just announced a comprehensive overview paper for the MeerKAT Galaxy Cluster Legacy Survey (MGCLS), accompanied by the public release of a vast trove of curated data that astronomers worldwide can use to address a variety of challenging questions relating to the formation and evolution of galaxies throughout the universe.

From climate change to the COVID-19 pandemic, the world looks to scientists to pave the way toward a more secure and sustainable future. Last night, the National Research Foundation (NRF) gathered to celebrate South Africa's local research talent at the annual NRF Awards ceremony, where two of our own – Professor Tebello Nyokong and Dr Takudzwa Madzivanzira – were acknowledged.

On Wednesday, 20 October 2021, Rhodes University launched the African Water Resources Mobility Network (AWaRMN), a five-year multi-partner project funded by the Intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme of the European Union (Agreement N° 2019-1973/4 - Project N° 614587). The network is set to address the pressing water-related challenges faced by the African continent, through cooperation in higher education.

Rhodes University's Siphokazi Msengana won first place at the national #3MT competition, securing the University's position at the top for the second year in a row.

On 26 November, Rhodes University 2021 Distinguished Alumni Awardee Bernard Agulhas discussed the future of auditing with Rhodes University Dean of Commerce, Professor Dave Sewry, as a part of a series of Rhodes University Leadership Conversations.

Justice and Correctional Services minister, Ronald Lamola, will be among the speakers at the inaugural Fort Calata Memorial Lecture in Lingelihle, Cradock on 5 November 2021.

Jonathan Benjamin, a 25-year-old Environmental Sciences Masters student at Rhodes University, competed in the Africa Duathlon Championships in Windhoek, Namibia recently.

On Wednesday, 20 October, the 2020 Vice Chancellor's Distinguished Community Engagement Award public lecture was held at the Amazwi Museum of Literature and virtually by the award recipient Ms Mapula Maponya.

In a world facing many global challenges amidst faltering leadership, bottom-up community projects are often the humble heralds of social change. But their pivotal role is often overlooked. This was the sentiment shared during Rhodes University Community Engagement (RUCE) Symposium on Thursday.

At its second virtual graduation ceremony for Masters and PhD students on 29 October 2021, Rhodes University will confer a degree of Doctor of Science (DSc) (honoris causa) on epidemiologist Professor Salim Abdool Karim, who is widely recognised for his scientific and leadership contributions in AIDS and COVID-19.

On Friday, 08 October 2021, Rhodes University Chamber Choir (RUCC) collaborated with Zolani Youth Choir (ZYC) and Makhanda KWANTU Choir to hold a concert at Cathedral of St Michael and St Georges. The audience comprised various citizens from the Makhanda community, including the Dean of the Cathedral, Reverend Mzinzisi Dyantyi. The event brought pride to the town of Makhanda with supporters and lovers of choral music coming out in numbers.

Community engagement should not be a one-way street but rather an exchange of knowledge from which all parties involved benefit. These are the sentiments of the South African Higher Education Community Engagement Forum (SAHECEF) Chairperson, Professor Darren Lortan. He was speaking on the second day of the Community Engagement Symposium hosted by Rhodes University the Durban University of Technology.

At its second virtual graduation ceremony for Masters and PhD students on 29 October 2021, Rhodes University will confer a degree of Doctor of Letters (D Litt) (honoris causa) on retired SABC isiXhosa news anchor, Ms Noxolo Grootboom. Ms Grootboom is recognised nationally for her significant promotion of national pride and culture through her journalistic career, which spanned 37 years.

For the second time in over 100 years of its existence, Rhodes University will, on Friday 29 October 2021, host an exclusive graduation ceremony for Masters and Doctoral graduates. The virtual graduation will be the fourth since lockdown measures were implemented.

Starting on Tuesday, 19 October 2021, Rhodes University Community Engagement (RUCE) Division hosted the 5th annual Community Engagement Symposium under the theme ‘The role of Community Engagement in the reimagination of Higher Education during and post the Covid 19 pandemic’.

Performance, film, live music, a street market and a Rhodes University-published book will all feature at the 2021 Schreiner Karoo Writers Festival (SKWF) which takes place between 20-23 October 2021.

Leadership across the globe faces a crisis. Those meant to guide us through historical changes and challenges are failing. But this is not without exception. In August this year, the Old Rhodian Union Committee awarded four Distinguished Alumni Awards to outstanding University alumni, one of whom is the newly appointed Financial Sector Conduct Authority Commissioner, Mr Unathi Kamlana.

Rhodes University Community Engagement (RUCE) hosted its annual award ceremony on Tuesday 12th October 2021.

Two Rhodes University basketball players have been rewarded for their brilliant work during the recent University Sports South Africa (USSA) national basketball Championships.

One of the world’s most spectacular marine migrations is the KwaZulu-Natal sardine run. The so-called “greatest shoal on Earth” takes place during the southern hemisphere’s winter. It involves the movement of tens to hundreds of millions of sardines from the warm-temperate waters of South Africa’s south coast to the subtropical waters of the east coast, over a thousand kilometres away.

Vaccines are ultimately the only way to ensure that we beat COVID-19, yet vaccine hesitancy remains a threat to protecting our community. In this series, Virologist at Rhodes University and member of the Provincial COVID-19 Expert Panel, Professor Rosemary Dorrington, will address queries, fears, and misinformation that many of our citizens face.

Rhodes University's award-winning community engagement programme, the Nine Tenths Matric Mentoring Programme, celebrated its win of the MacJannet Prize for Global Citizenship on Sunday, 3 October 2021.

The Rhodes Business School hosted its 7th Archbishop Thabo Makgoba Trust annual lecture on values-based leadership on Monday, 04 October 2021.

South Africa’s Department of Higher Education and Training released a policy framework in 2020 to enhance the sector’s effort towards internationalisation. The Conversation’s Nontobeko Mtshali asked Orla Quinlan to share her insights.

The Centre for Higher Education Research, Teaching, and Learning (CHERTL) hosted an online lecture on Wednesday the 15th of September 2021 for academics, students, and staff interested in using language as a resource for teaching in diverse learning contexts, specifically in the context of the student-lecturer partnership.

There comes a time in some people’s lives when the seeds they have been carefully planting throughout their careers, come together to form a beautiful tree. This is the sentiment of the recently-appointed Development and Fundraising Manager at the Division of Communication and Advancement, Ms Siyasanga Hompashe.

As scientists explore how life in the abyss could generate new medicines, deep-sea mining is threatening to wipe it out

Ngolwesibini, umhla we-21 KweyoMsintsi 2021, isikolo seeLwimi noNcwadi: Icandelo leeLwimi zesiNtu kwiYunivesithi iRhodes belibhiyozela ulwimi lwesiXhosa likwaphehlelela neencwadi zemibongo.

There is ample space in academia for brilliant young black minds, especially young black women. Rhodes University Psychology lecturer Ms Dineo Diale, is an exceptional example of the bright minds in this space.

The Old Rhodian Union selection committee has selected four worthy recipients of Rhodes University's Distinguished Alumni Award 2021: Dr Roger N. Scoon, Mr Unathi Kamlana, Ms Heloise Henning Emdon and Mr Bernard Peter Agulhas.

From Rhodes University in South Africa, Sioux Mckenna asks whether the technological arms race of plagiarism detection is of any benefit to students and learning

Vaccines are ultimately the only way to ensure that we beat COVID-19, yet vaccine hesitancy remains a threat to protecting our community. In this series, Virologist at Rhodes University and member of the Provincial COVID-19 Expert Panel, Professor Rosemary Dorrington, will address queries, fears, and misinformation that many of our citizens face.

As the first accredited course in South Africa focusing specifically on the knowledge and skills to teach early literacy, Rhodes University’s new Advanced Certificate in Foundation Phase Literacy Teaching has received high ratings from external examiners.

Rhodes University alumni have entrusted Dr Michele Ruiters with the role of President of Convocation. Dr Ruiters is a senior lecturer at Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), associated with the University of Pretoria. She teaches human and organisational behaviour courses, diversity, equality, and inclusion.

The uptake of educational technology in South Africa’s higher education sector has been highly uneven and very slow. Before the pandemic, most courses offered in South African universities had some form of Learning Management System presence. Students could access course guides and readings, upload their assignments, and possibly communicate with their lecturer and peers via forums. But beyond that, many academics seemed to resist making use of the technology, even though it could allow for greater engagement and interactive learning.

The International Society of Critical Health Psychology (ISCHP) recently launched its inaugural awards at its bi-annual conference, hosted across several virtual hubs worldwide. Rhodes University researcher and academic Distinguished Professor Catriona Macleod and two of her Critical Studies in Sexualities and Reproduction research programme (CSSR) alumnae featured extraordinarily well at the awards.

South Africa has failed to produce a higher education system that meets its fundamental social and developmental needs in the democratic era, according to a new book, Understanding Higher Education: Alternative perspectives by two academics at Rhodes University, Chrissie Boughey and Sioux McKenna.

Rhodes University and the Makhanda Circle of Unity hosted a youth chat about the COVID-19 vaccine and vaccine myths yesterday.

Dipalo is a play co-written by Selloane 'Lalu' Mokuku, a lecturer in Applied Drama and Theatre at Rhodes University, and Ginni Manning, a playwright and theatre-maker from Liverpool, England.

Rhodes University lecturer and project manager for First Physical Theatre Company, Gavin Krastin, has been awarded the prestigious Standard Bank Young Artist Award (Performance Art) for 2021.

As women's month drew to a close for 2021, Rhodes University connected virtually with some of its inspiring alumnae, including Dr Mandy Hlengwa, Ayanda Mbanga, Janet Heard and Kim Cloete. Leboghang Nkambule, 2021 Student Representative Council President, also provided a current Rhodes University perspective, connecting past and present experiences.

Vaccines are ultimately the only way to ensure that we beat COVID-19, yet vaccine hesitancy remains a threat to protecting our community. In this series, Virologist at Rhodes University and member of the Provincial COVID-19 Expert Panel, Professor Rosemary Dorrington, will address queries, fears, and misinformation that many of our citizens face.

Botlhale Phurulla Modisaotsile has been elected as the Rhodes University Student Representative Council (SRC) President for 2022.

Monday. The first day over-18s are allowed to vaccinate on Rhodes University campus – and the response is overwhelming as Rhodents make the trek up to the Gavin Relly Postgrad Village site.

Back in full swing in 2021, the annual Highway Africa summit conference ran virtually over three days in June, with 136 unique attendees.

uest speaker at the seminar in the Registrar’s Division, in celebration of Women’s Month, Mrs Desiree Wicks presented an insightful and well-articulated talk on Quilting, Fabric Art, Fabricology and other craziness – Life Balance, Therapy and an amazing Community.

August is not only a month of the celebration of womanhood and women in South Africa, but also a time to commemorate women who fought against the injustices of our societies.

The plan for the full return to campus of both staff and students took an important step on Wednesday, 18 August 2021, with the constitution of several technical Task Teams to conduct targeted assessments of the ‘COVID-19 lessons’ of the past year-and-a-half and accordingly facilitate preparations for the safe resumption of the normal University system.

The story of how a shy radio astronomer from the Eastern Cape came to be a central character in building of one of the world’s most sensitive scientific instruments involves a series of unlikely events, a startling amount of beer and popcorn, and a team fuelled by the stubborn conviction that South Africa could pull it off.

In an effort to revive and preserve indigenous African languages, Rhodes University has joined a consortium of universities to collaborate in a project funded by the European Union called BAQONDE.

The 10th of August marked the second day of the virtual Women and the Armed Struggle Colloquium presented by the Political and International Studies Department at Rhodes University, in partnership with the Centre for Women and Gender Studies at Nelson Mandela University and the Historical Studies Department at the University of Cape Town.

On the morning of 10 August, the multifaceted storyteller, poet, nurse, and uMkhonto we Sizwe veteran, Makhosazana Xaba, orated a moving keynote address.

Women's Day in South Africa marks the anniversary of the great women's march of 1956, where strong, confident, resilient and powerful women gathered at the Union buildings to protest against the carrying of passbooks.

As part of a two-day colloquium, ‘Women and 60 Years of the Armed Struggle in South Africa’, an influential panel recounted their experiences as uMkhonto we Sizwe and Azanian National Liberation Army veterans.

In a two-day virtual colloquium, the Rhodes University Political and International Studies Department collaborated with Nelson Mandela University Centre for Women and Gender Studies and the University of Cape Town's Historical Studies Department to bring together the voices and stories of women who participated in the armed struggle in South Africa.

Vaccines are ultimately the only way to ensure that we beat COVID-19, yet vaccine hesitancy remains a threat to attaining herd immunity and protecting the whole community. In this series, Virologist at Rhodes University and member of the Provincial COVID-19 Expert Panel, Professor Rosemary Dorrington, will address queries, fears, and misinformation that many of our citizens face. Question: “What are all these different coronavirus variants I keep hearing about? And which ones are affecting South Africa?”

Language constituted in how and what we ‘hear’ and ‘speak’ impacts various aspects of our reality, including how we experience the South African democracy as it stands. Those were some of the words from Judge Belinda Hartle at the virtual launch of A handbook on Legal Languages and the quest for linguistic equality in South Africa and beyond by Rhodes University alumna, Dr Zakeera Docrat, in partnership with Professor Russell Kaschula and Professor Monwabisi Ralarala.

Vaccines are ultimately the only way to ensure that we beat COVID-19, yet vaccine hesitancy remains a threat to attaining herd immunity and protecting the whole community. In this series, Virologist at Rhodes University and member of the Provincial COVID-19 Expert Panel, Professor Rosemary Dorrington, will address queries, fears, and misinformation that many of our citizens face.

Earlier this month, the final year Pharmacy students were vaccinated against COVID-19 at the Faculty of Pharmacy, followed by approximately 200 second and third year BPharm students. Pharmacy students were included in the first cohort eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines, as they perform Work Integrated/Based Learning in clinical platforms as an essential component of their curricula.

Vaccines are ultimately the only way to ensure that we beat COVID-19, yet vaccine hesitancy remains a threat to attaining herd immunity and protecting the whole community. In this series, Virologist at Rhodes University and member of the Provincial COVID-19 Expert Panel, Professor Rosemary Dorrington, will address queries, fears, and misinformation that many of our citizens face.

Rhodes University has joined other universities in the fight against COVID-19 by establishing an on-campus vaccination site situated at its Gavin Relly Postgraduate Village.

Rhodes University lecturer in Human Kinetics and Ergonomics (HKE), Dr Jonathan Davy, has been elected President of the Ergonomics Society of South Africa (ESSA) for a period of three years.

Rhodes University academics are now using digital storytelling as an assessment tool for service learning and to generate rich qualitative data.

The Rhodes University Drama Department will be presenting two works – Mafungwashe (drama) and The Witch’s Party (physical theatre) – at the 2021 National Arts Festival. Both productions will be available through video-on-demand streaming from 13-31 July.

Rhodes University’s academic and Associate Professor Julie Coetzee has been elected President of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa (ESSA).

Rhodes University’s Department of Accounting has achieved an impressive 94% pass rate in this year’s Initial Test of Competence (ITC) set by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA).

In line with the National Department of Health’s (NDoH) mandate to vaccinate as many eligible people as quickly as possible, the Rhodes University Faculty of Pharmacy has started vaccinating its qualifying students against COVID-19.

A team of three Rhodes University students and two external collaborators have won first prize at the recently concluded nationwide Hackathon challenge.

The Impact of Science conference, which took place online from 23 to 25 June, investigated the transformative nature and role of science in society. PhD scholar in the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Biotechnology at Rhodes University, Blessing Mabate, attended this high-profile event.

In an effort to better equip students to cope with the impact the pandemic has had on their mental health, the Psychology Department has implemented a Mental Health and Wellbeing course as part of its first-year psychology curriculum.

Reabetsoe Buys, a Counselling Psychologist and representative from the Tomorrow Trust, recently spent two days at Rhodes University to check in with the organisation’s 19 funded students.

Day three of the Highway Africa virtual conference, which consisted of several academic and research tracks, was launched with a keynote by Professor of Social Anthropology at the University of Cape Town, Francis Nyamnjoh.

The afternoon session of the second day of the Highway Africa virtual conference kicked off on 22 June with the highly anticipated panel discussion titled: ‘Big tech and data, disinformation, truth and inertia’.

Journalists worldwide do unpopular work that places them under threat – and this is not just a reality in autocratic states but one faced by journalists around the world. Cyberattacks have become the latest attack method of choice against journalists, with cases continuing to rise exponentially. This was the topic of discussion for the last seminar on the second day of the Highway Africa virtual conference, which ran from 21-23 June 2021.

In today’s digital world, big data is becoming central to society’s functioning, and the media is no exception. Journalists can use data to tell new stories about the world we live in and better understand how people consume them. But as with any technology, the datafication of the media presents both opportunities and threats. This plays out in the African context in unique ways, and local media stands at a precipice in trying to deal with these changes.

On 22 June, Adi Eyal, Founder of OpenUp, a civic tech laboratory that blends data and technology to drive social change, gave a keynote address on Harnessing Big Data by African Media to Improve Journalism Innovation in a well-attended presentation as part of the Highway Africa three-day virtual conference.

On 21 June 2021, Highway Africa started its virtual conference on the perils and promise of platformisation for Africa with an introduction and welcome from Dr Sizwe Mabizela, Vice-Chancellor of Rhodes University.

Although 2020’s unexpected COVID-19 pandemic limited Highway Africa to a series of webinars, this year’s virtual conference will see the usual magnitude of this 24-year old event restored to its former glory.

The Rhodes University Council, at its meeting last week, unanimously resolved to extend Dr Sizwe Mabizela’s contract as Vice-Chancellor for a further seven years “to continue the proud academic story of quality of the past seven years,” Council Chairperson Judge Gerald Bloem, said.

On Friday, 11 June 2021, the Rhodes University African Studies Centre hosted a two-session panel colloquium titled “COVID-19 in Retrospect: Drug R&D and Traditional Medicine in Africa”.

On 11 June, the Rhodes University African Studies Centre hosted an online colloquium that focused on COVID-19 drug research & development and the role of traditional medicine in Africa. The webinar saw a total of 64 registered delegates and five panellists in attendance.

Rhodes University honorary doctorate Dr Bernie Fanaroff, and several physicists associated with Rhodes University, have recently revisited the Fanaroff-Riley classification (FRI/FRII morphological classification) in a paper called ‘A new look at old friends. I. Imaging classical radio galaxies with uGMRT and MeerKAT’.

In celebration of Youth Month, the National Research Foundation (NRF) is honouring the Youth of the NRF who are advancing knowledge, transforming lives and inspiring a nation. Rhodes University alumna, Dr Zakeera Docrat, is among these NRF-affiliated young achievers.

The Rhodes University community was saddened by the news of the passing of one of its honorary doctorate recipients, Professor Mahavishnu Padayachee over the weekend.

Rhodes University recently became the first South African university to win top place for the prestigious 2021 MacJannet Prize for Global Citizenship for its Nine Tenths Matric Mentoring Programme.

Rhodes University’s Head of Music and Musicology, Associate Professor Catherine Foxcroft, recently had a sit down with the Communications and Advancement Division and reflected on the effect 2020 had on her personal, academic, and teaching and learning experiences.

On Thursday 20 May, Rhodes University and the International Library of African Music (ILAM) launch a new podcast series called African Music Activists. The series will showcase some of Africa’s most dedicated and influential music activists.

After struggling with anxiety and depression in his second year, law student Tshepo Mantje decided to share his painful lessons with others through a podcast - turning a complicated subject into a positive experience. A recent LLB graduate, Mantje recounts the interesting trajectory of his academic career.

Hot on the heels of the devastating fire at the University of Cape Town narrowly missing the famous Bolus Herbarium, the Albany Museum’s Selmar Schonland Herbarium, closely associated with Rhodes University, barely escaped a devastation of its own last week.

Rhodes University alumnus, Unathi Kamlana, has been appointed a Commissioner of the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA). Kamlana, who was appointed by Finance Minister, Tito Mboweni, will head the FSCA for a period of five years.

For the first time since its inception, the annual National Symposium on Biological invasions, was held as a virtual online event last week. It took place over three days, from 5 – 7 May and saw over 404 delegates register from 21 countries across the globe, including seven African countries.

The prospect of pursuing university studies while working full-time can be daunting. But this has not stopped Rhodes University support staff from taking on the challenge over the years. In a world that is forever changing, committing to personal and professional growth, as these staff members have, is essential.

For the first time ever, over 50 Gadra Matric School alumni graduated from Rhodes University in a single graduation ceremony, which marks a significant milestone in the journey to transform education in Makhanda.

After overcoming remote learning challenges and contracting COVID-19 in 2020, sheer determination and hope drove Luvo Myobe to graduate with a Bachelor of Journalism degree, against all odds.

The 2021 Rhodes University graduation ceremony marked a special day in Lindiwe Tsope’s life and academic career, as she became the first Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls (OWLAG) alumni to graduate with a PhD.

While it is well known that surfing the internet can leave you vulnerable to theft, web-based ‘crypto-jackers’ are not after your money or files: they are looking to use your computer’s power to mine cryptocurrency. The research of Computer Science Masters graduate, Rob Len, explored just how prevalent web-based crypto-jacking is.

Recent Master’s graduate Esihle Lupindo has earned himself the Fulbright Foreign Student Exchange Scholarship to study towards a Doctoral degree in the United States of America (USA) at the University of Nebraska. The scholarship will provide full funding for his tuition and boarding and allow him to participate in a cultural exchange programme, amongst other things.

When Dr Desire Chiwandire first joined Rhodes University in 2009, he had a dream of one day completing his PhD at the university and in 2021 his dream was realised.

With a global pandemic in our midst, universities all over the world have been forced to find new and creative ways to celebrate the students’ graduation day, robbing them of the normal ways of celebration. However, this is not the worst that the pandemic has done to students, as some are forced to celebrate graduation without parents, who were lost due to COVID-19.

On Friday, 23rd of April 2021, Rhodes University African studies Centre hosted a virtual panel for the Coronavirus (COVID-19) discussion.

On Thursday, 22 April 2021, the Rhodes University African Studies Centre, in association with the Institute for Africa and African Diaspora Studies at the University of Lagos, hosted the first day of a two-day colloquium aimed at examining fundamental questions relating to the politics of global health and Africa’s position in the world health systems architecture.

According to the Rhodes University Student Disciplinary Code, online harassment, bullying, and other forms of intimidation towards staff or fellow students are offences that can lead to severe consequences.

We cannot use the internet today without giving away our personal information. Everything, from social media and online shopping to reading the news, requires you to sign up and disclose personal data, while websites continually ask you to accept ‘cookies’ that track your location and IP address. But do South Africans care? Recent Masters in Information Systems graduate Heather Parker focused her research on this question.

The SA Netflix documentary My Octopus Teacher won the Oscar for Best Documentary Film feature early on Monday morning.

On its 72nd graduation ceremony on the 28th of April 2021, Rhodes University will confer a degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD) (honoris causa) on its alumnus and notable educator Mr William Smith.

Rhodes University’s Chemistry Department has made history by being the first department in any South African university to join the Green Chemistry Commitment programme.

On its 72nd graduation ceremony on the 28th of April 2021, Rhodes University will confer a degree of Doctor of Letters (DLitt) (honoris causa) on researcher in natural products chemistry, Professor Berhanu Abegaz.

On Thursday, the 15th of April, Rhodes University Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) hosted a live webinar that focused on the meaning of ‘home’ in the context of the urban housing crisis. Chaired by ISER Director, Professor Cyril Nhlanhla Mbatha, the webinar saw close to 100 participants registered across the country.

On its 72nd graduation ceremony on the 28th of April 2021, Rhodes University will confer a degree of Doctor of Letters (DLitt) (honoris causa) on alumna and prolific author of fiction and non-fiction works, Dr Marguerite Poland.

The story of democratic South Africa and its approach to human rights in the rest of the world is a tale of woe. For two-and-a-half decades, its foreign policy mostly failed to defend internationally – and quite often contradicted – the human rights principles contained in its constitution.

On its 72nd graduation ceremony on the 28th of April 2021, Rhodes University will confer a degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD) (honoris causa) on community builder, Nontsikelelo Ntsiki Biko.

Rhodes University has appointed retired provincial Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Les Roberts as the University’s first Ombudsperson. His two-year appointment expires in 2022.

On its 72nd graduation ceremony on the 28th of April 2021, Rhodes University will confer a degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD) (honoris causa) on activist for political and human rights, Ms Mary de Haas.

On its 72nd graduation ceremony on the 28th of April 2021, Rhodes University will confer a degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD) (honoris causa) on African Court for Human Rights and People’s Rights Judge and Cricket South Africa’s Social Justice Ombudsman, Advocate Dumisa Buhle Ntsebeza SC.

Sixty-six percent (66%) of the people graduating in Rhodes University’s third virtual graduation ceremony are women.

Since the 25th of January 2021, Rhodes University has recorded four (4) positive cases of COVID-19, with one staff member and three students testing positive. To date, a total of seven (7) staff members have passed away due to COVID-19 complications.

Rhodes University athlete, Jonathan Benjamin, is set to represent South Africa under 30 at the World Triathlon Championships in Canada later this year. He recently participated in the South African Triathlon Championships that took place in Bloemfontein, representing Eastern Province Buffalo City region.

Rhodes Business School Senior Lecturer, Professor Tshidi Mohapeloa has been unanimously elected by all 26 universities as the Deputy Chairperson of the national Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) Communities of Practice (CoP) for Entrepreneurship Learning and Teaching.

The Rhodes University Law Faculty recently kicked off its 2021 academic year by celebrating the success of academic staff and students alike.

Rhodes University 2020 Student Representative Council President, Katlego Mphahlele has been selected as the 2021 ambassador of the International University Sports Federation (FISU).

It is with great consternation that we share the news that our official Rhodes University Facebook page has been hijacked and is no longer under our control.

An international team of astronomers has published the most sensitive images of the Universe ever taken at low radio frequencies, using the International Low Frequency Array (LOFAR).

A PhD student in the African Language Studies Section in the School of Languages and Literatures, Mr Ignatius Mabasa, has been awarded a PhD for the first-ever thesis written in ChiShona at Rhodes University.

Rhodes University's Associate Professor Julie Coetzee from the Department of Botany recently weighed in on how South Africa has successfully brought Salvinia molesta under control thanks to the release of the weevil into its freshwater systems since 1985.

A second year Statistics Masters student, Babalwa Falteni, is participating in the 2021 FameLab programme that starts today online and will end tomorrow.

Mapula Maponya from the Allan Gray Centre for Leadership Ethics (AGCLE), is the recipient of the 2020 Vice Chancellor’s Distinguished Award for Community Engagement.

Being in nature has benefits for people, as studies have shown. There’s ample evidence that experiences of nature have positive physical and psychological outcomes. But these insights have largely come from the Global North. There’s very little research on how urban communities in the Global South experience or view urban nature.

The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration, who produced the first ever image of a black hole, has revealed today a new view of the massive object at the centre of the M87 galaxy: how it looks in polarised light. EHT collaboration members Dr Iniyan Natarajan and Prof Roger Deane, both with roots in Rhodes University, were involved in this discovery.

Pearce was a boy from Klerksdorp who could never quite believe that he was a partner in the world’s largest law firm, a member of the MCC and the Reform Club. Someone who had spoken to the Crown Prince of Japan in Japanese, even though he had not said “I hang upon your eye” as the courtliest Japanese demanded.

Various departments of the University were hard at work over the long weekend in an endeavour to cover accumulated backlogs in critical areas of operation. The backlogs include the registration of some first time entering students (FTENs), processing of students allowances, distribution of laptops for new students and cleaning of students’ residences. The following update relates to some of the work completed and/or in progress:

Professor Chris Mann, who was based at Rhodes University’s Institute for the Study of the Englishes in Africa (ISEA) and founded Wordfest, died peacefully at his home in Makhanda last week, following a cancer diagnosis in 2020.

Legal and disciplinary breaches by protesting students, including intimidation and abuse of staff coming to work, abuse of University property, threats targeted at students and parents visiting campus to drop-off students, have compelled Rhodes University to review with immediate effect the strategy to ensure safety and health on campus.

Someone who has read the novel Ityala Lamawele by Samuel Edward Krune Mqhayi or watched the telenovela on SABC 1 would know that it is sometimes rare for twins to see eye to eye, let alone love the same things. However, two sets of twins who came to register at Rhodes University this week paint an altogether different story.

Rhodes University acknowledges the announcement yesterday by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation (DHET), Dr Blade Nzimande, that Cabinet took a decision that funding for DHET would have to be reprioritised to address the National Student Financial Aid Scheme is a South African (NSFAS) funding shortfall.

A new study published in Nature is prompting the rewrite of all biology textbooks relating to the origin and evolution of vertebrates – including the modern human. The study, by Professor Rob Gess from the Albany Museum in Makhanda (Grahamstown) shows that the foundation on which most of the research done on the origin of vertebrates (any animal with a backbone such as goldfish, lizards, crows and people) has been based on incorrect assumptions.

When a young girl from Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) was diagnosed with leukemia in 2013 and admitted to Red Cross Children’s Hospital in Cape Town, she wasn’t sure if her studies would ever extend beyond Grade 5.

An initiative that started as a small idea in 2000 at Albany Museum under Nonceba Shoba's leadership has grown into a fully-fledged partnership between Rhodes University and GADRA Education.

Published on 1 March 2021 in the SA Medical Journal, the article titled Viruses, variants and vaccines was co-authored by Rhodes University’s Professor Rosemary Dorrington from the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology.

After ten years at the helm of Development and Fundraising at Rhodes University, Qondakele Sompondo bowed out in February to take on a new challenge as the Director of Institutional Advancement at Sol Plaatje University.

Makhanda schools have bounced back from the disappointing results of 2019 in style and in the process recorded a collective pass rate of 80% for the first time in the city’s history!

The Makhanda Circle of Unity (MCoU), an apolitical, multi-stakeholder civil society coalition, welcomes Mr Sisesakhe Ntlabezo, as the newly appointed Programme Manager to drive a novel collaborative pact for the advancement of the city’s socio-economic interest.

The drug whoonga has plagued South African communities for at least a decade, yet only gained significant public attention when it appeared more visibly in the inner-city and surrounding suburbs of Durban, the major city in the country’s KwaZulu-Natal province.

The rise of fake news in the COVID-19 era has had terrible consequences already and looks likely to continue to do so.

In response to the COVID-19 context, the Centre for Higher Education, Research, Teaching and Learning (CHERTL), offered the annual Academic Orientation Programme (AOP) in a distance mode this year.

Dr Jono Davy, Mr Andrew Todd and Mr Ben Ryan of Rhodes University’s Department of Human Kinetics and Ergonomics (HKE) have been recognised as the recipients of the 2019 Vice Chancellor’s Distinguished Award for Community Engagement.

On 04 February 2021, the three winners of the 2019 VC’s Community Engagement Award gave attendees an inspiring look into the possibilities of transforming classroom-based teaching and laboratory-based research into an embedded and transformative experience for students, academics and community members.

The confluence of language and justice is at the heart of Rhodes University academic Dr Zakeera Docrat’s work.

Rhodes University would like to join the millions of South Africa in paying homage to a world-renowned opera singer and jazz music legend, Dr Sibongile Khumalo.

It is with great sadness that we record the passing of a former staff member in the Faculty of Law, Professor Emeritus Richman Mqeke.

Rhodes University alumnus, Wamkele Mene, was last week installed as the secretary-general of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), a first for the continent.