Rhodes University SARChI Chair for Molecular and Cellular Biology of the Eukaryotic Stress Response Professor Adrienne Edkins, has been awarded a 2018 Newton Advanced Fellowship grant of £101 000 (which is close to R2 million) from the Academy of Medical Sciences.

The Eastern Cape Department of Education named Usiphile Gazi as the top matric 2018 learner from a historically disadvantaged institution (HDI) in the Sarah Baartman District on Friday 4 January, at an awards ceremony in East London.

The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) recently confirmed that Rhodes University’s research outputs are up by 15.6%.

Following rumours on social media that Rhodes University will not be opening for the 2019 academic year due to water shortages, the University would like to put it on record that this is not the case. The University’s plans to open for first year registrations on 02 February 2019 are on track.

Rhodes University staff and students from the department of Geography have contributed to a Nature Communications journal synopsis about global permafrost temperatures.

New academics at Rhodes University are spending more than a week engaged in learning of their own.

Rhodes University is pleased to announce its role as key partner in a major global research programme to influence ocean health and integrated ocean governance for equitable and inclusive sustainability.

Rhodes University is well on track for welcoming its new students as orientation kicks off from 2-9 February.

Rhodes University has developed an integrated approach to academic orientation by setting up panel discussions that are more in line with its general formative degree structure.

The University of the Western Cape (UWC), together with Rhodes University and the University of Fort Hare, recently held a two-day conversation regarding land reform issues.

Contrary to recent media reports, Rhodes University is not about to shut down.

The days of tedious paperwork for your ethics applications are a thing of the past, with Rhodes University’s newly-launched online ethical review application system (ERAS).

Associate Head of Rhodes University's Creative Writing Programme Dr Hleze Kunju, and alumna Lefatshe Moagi, have both been named as finalists for Avance Media’s prestigious 100 Most Influential Young South Africans in the Personal Development and Academia category.

Excited Rhodes University Pharmacy student, Mpho Kotolane, was recently handed keys to her new Ford Figo by Absa at Rhodes University.

This year the Rhodes University Maths Experience (RUME) welcomed 22 schools and a total of 360 learners from in and around Grahamstown, with schools from Port Alfred and Port Elizabeth joining as well. RUME is an annual event that hosts learners from grade 7-12, both public and private schools.

FNB Rhodes Stallions grinded out a victory against Eastern Cape neighbours, FNB Fort Hare Blues, in an epic Varsity Shield derby match at the BCM Stadium in East London last night, winning 13 -12.

Welcome to the first in a series of weekly water updates from Rhodes University. The aim of these regular news briefs is to inform, support and connect with the Rhodes University community in all water-related issues.

Many volunteers might join Rhodes University’s Engaged Citizen Programme (ECP) because they want to help ‘the community’, but it is as one of the student leaders for the programme writes boldly on his purple shirt, “I do community engagement because I am a part of the community.”

Thank you to all the suggestions, submissions and engagements received after last week’s newsletter. There were a lot of queries about how Oppidan students and off-campus staff should be dealing with the water crisis, so we are dedicating this edition to off-campus living. Remember, that anyone who lives off campus falls under the municipality’s water crisis measures

Globally, the proportion of female scientists and women working in technology is still much lower than that of men. This is why, when Tanya Accone, head of UNICEF’s Global Innovation Centre (GIC), and Professor Janice Limson, Director of the Biotechnology Innovation Centre at Rhodes University in South Africa, met, they recognised an opportunity to do valuable work together.

Late last month, dignitaries and representatives of the Makana municipality in partnership with the Department of Human Kinetics and Ergonomics (HKE) at Rhodes University, the Eastern Cape Academy of Sport and the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSRAC) assembled in Joza, Grahamstown/Makhanda gathered for the official opening of the Sarah Baartman District Academy for Sport.

There have been rumours circulating, once again, about Rhodes University closing down due to the water crisis. Please note, that Rhodes University has no plans to close down. Please help us to stop these rumours from spreading.

Professor Tally Palmer from the Institute for Water Research (IWR) has been announced as the recipient of the 2018 Vice Chancellor’s Distinguished Award for Community Engagement, for her ground-breaking work in ecological justice and water sustainability.

Professor Makaiko Chithambo, Head of the Physics and Electronics Department of Rhodes University published a book entitled ‘An Introduction to Time-Resolved Optically Stimulated Luminescence’ late last year.

In the last few days, load shedding has been implemented nationally. This has impacted on Makana Municipality’s ability to supply water to the town and campus because electricity is needed to pump water from the dams into the water treatment works and then into the reservoirs supplying the reticulation system.

Dr Philani Mashazi, a senior lecturer within the Department of Chemistry at Rhodes University, was recently awarded an amount of R3.5m from the National Research Foundation’s National Equipment Programme.

Walking into the Research Office in the Administration Building where newly appointed ethics coordinator Mr Siyanda Manqele sits, I was directed to his office. I found research ethics books lying neatly on his desk.

Bringing together a diverse audience, the ‘What Do Human Rights Mean To Me?’ panel discussion took place at Rhodes University on 20 March 2019, as part of Human Rights Week organised by the Office of Equity and Institutional Culture.

Welcome to our latest edition of Water Weekly. A lot has happened since last week. Please see the latest updates on the water crisis.

Barry Gilder’s latest book got the Rhodes University community and guests riled up during the first public dialogue for 2019 for the Department of Political & International Studies and Office of Equity & Institutional Culture series.

Rhodes University researchers published a study in the South African Journal of Psychology last month, based on the doctoral research of former Rhodes Psychology student Dr Diana Zoccola, confirming other studies that demonstrate persistent brain injury effects in association with long-term participation in a contact sport.

Rhodes University Accounting Department has noted with concern the “uncharacteristic, poor performance” by its accounting students in the 2019 South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) Initial Test of Competence (ITC) examination.

Welcome to our latest edition of Water Weekly, which is full of good news. As the water situation becomes increasingly stable, there is less to report on, so our weekly water news will probably become shorter in the coming weeks.

Five remarkable individuals will be honoured with Honorary Doctorates by Rhodes University during its 2019 annual graduation ceremonies between 11 and 13 April.

The Centre for Postgraduate Studies (CPGS) officially opened the year’s programme by hosting a welcome event for all postgraduate students.

Rhodes University’s Technology Transfer Office recently hosted legal firm KISCH IP Attorneys, to deliver a seminar on Intellectual Property and the IPR Act at the Main Library.

Seventy-seven-year-old Yvette Van Wijk will soon receive the highest academic qualification that can be bestowed on someone, proving that it is never too late to further your studies. She spoke to Julian Jacobs from Rhodes University’s School of Journalism and Media studies about her journey.

Ntsikelelo Charles will graduate with his Honours degree in Physics this week and he credits, amongst others, Rhodes University’s many outreach programmes over the years as an inspiration for realising his dream.

A panel discussion on the right to vote in South Africa was held on 26 March 2019 in the Eden Grove Blue Lecture Theatre. This discussion focused on the right to free, fair and regular elections and the upcoming South African general elections taking place on 8 May 2019.

Rhodes University contributes to paradigm-shifting observations of the gargantuan black hole at the heart of distant galaxy Messier 87.

Graduation season at Rhodes University, which kicked off on 11 April, will see 2 321 students receiving their degrees and diplomas in six ceremonies spread over three days.

Eight years ago Zolani Bethela worked as a petrol attendant at a BP garage in Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown).

The Rhodes University Postgraduate Hall hosted a dinner in honour of new Masters and PhD graduates on 13 April 2019 at the Bantu Steve Biko Oppidan Dining Hall.

Matthew Weaver, who recently graduated with his PhD in Water Resource Science, was the last doctoral student supervised by the late Emeritus Professor Jay O’Keeffe, Founding Director of the Institute for Water Research (IWR).

Professor Tally Palmer from the Institute for Water Research (IWR) has been announced as the recipient of the 2018 Vice Chancellor’s Distinguished Award for Community Engagement, for her ground-breaking work in ecological justice and water sustainability.

Hlumela Palesa Mkabile, a recent Masters in Linguistics graduate of Rhodes University, has opted to explore dynamic and versatile research about the Xhosa language in her thesis, which is the first of its kind in over 30 years.

This hopeful campfire story will need constant rekindling by networked institutions of the state and civil society if it is to fuel sustainable and scalable change in the years to come.

Fulfilling its commitment to individual and social transformation, Rhodes University Community Engagement (RUCE) division in partnership with the University’s Communications and Advancement division continued with their initiative of live screening graduation. The six graduation ceremonies commenced on Thursday, 11 April and ended on Saturday, 13 April 2019.

Rhodes University’s Faculty of Law recently hosted Judge of Appeal, Nambitha Dambuza who gave a public lecture titled: “Customary law in South African courts - shunned?”

Xolisa Kula, an Admin Assistant for the Department of Student Affairs at Rhodes University, was recently appointed as the coach for Windbreakers basketball team.

For the first time in Rhodes University history, the Education Department graduated undergrads in the Bachelor of Education (BEd) four-year programme.

Four Rhodes University PhD Chemistry students were awarded the top position in the 2019 Hult Prize Challenge for their electronic and electrical waste management system.

It is that time of the year again, when Rhodes University opens its doors to secondary school learners from across the Province.

Welcome to our latest edition of Water Weekly. Please continue to #SaveOurWater as you have been doing by sticking to your 50 litres per person per day limit.

On Thursday, 9 May 2019, a day after the national elections in South Africa, a Rhodes University initiative with other social partners rebranded itself under the new name of Vuka! Makana, formerly known as Trading Live.

Rhodes University’s Communications Division recently sat down with Distinguished Professor Martin Hill from the Centre for Biological Control, to discuss the history of invasive alien plant species in South Africa and why they are such a threat to our water resources.

On 14 May, Dr Karen Ellery, recipient of the 2018 Vice-Chancellor’s Senior Distinguished Teaching Award, held a lecture titled: “What happens in science classrooms? Insights from the fringe”.

Tanatswa Chivhere, second-year Law and Journalism major at Rhodes University, signed up for the IiNtetho zoBomi course after her friend told her that it was relatively easy. She shares her journey with us.

Welcome to our latest edition of Water Weekly. Please continue to #SaveOurWater by sticking to the 50 litres per person per day limit.

Instead of the usual public lecture given by recipients of the Award, Professor Tally Palmer and her team are inviting members of the community to experience engaged research at the Vice Chancellor’s Community Engagement 2018 Award Lecture (“Water Works for Everyone”).

Having noted the recent media coverage of the impasse between Makana Municipality and humanitarian organisation, the Gift of the Givers, we urge both sides to keep talking to find a resolution that is fair and equitable and, most of all, that serves the best interests of the people of Makhanda.

Rhodes University’s Professor Adrienne Edkins has received close to 2 million rand from the UK Government to tackle HIV-related cancer as part of an international initiative to understand and treat HIV related cancer.

Old Rhodian Judge Johnathan “Jos” Jones, who recently turned 79, shared the story of his family legacy at Rhodes University, starting with his parents, who met at the University in the 1930s.

Spit Pit Poetry & Live Visuals, a rhythm and art initiative started by two Rhodes University students, aims to not only bring the Mahkanda community together, but to promote the creative career as a viable option.

The African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) Centre of Excellence in Water officially launched at Rhodes University on 27 May, with Director of the Institute for Water Research (IWR), Professor Tally Palmer, at the helm.

As part of International Week, which started off with a vibrant parade hosted by the Rhodes University International Office, an inaugural Internationalisation Summit was held on 19 May.

On the evening of 1 October, the Rhodes Business School held their 4th annual lecture at Rhodes University on Values-Based Leadership, which is in collaboration with the Archbishop Thabo Makgoba Development Trust (ATMDT).

Rhodes University’s Communications Division recently sat down with Distinguished Professor Martin Hill from the Centre for Biological Control, to discuss the history of biological control at Rhodes University and how this method of fighting alien plant species is helping drought-stricken areas like ours replenish water loss.

Professor Palmer, who has been working with the IWR since 1989, held a workshop at City Hall on the evening of 30 May, with the tagline: Makhanda: Water Works for Everyone.

Eight academically-deserving students, who fall out of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) threshold, from Rhodes University have been awarded a R200 thousand worth of bursary from GBS Mutual Bank.

Two Rhodes University scientists, Dr Cliff Jones and Professor Peter Britz, both from the Ichthyology and Fisheries Science department have joined over 70 scientists and industry professionals from 16 countries in Tromsø, Norway to launch the European Union (EU) funded AquaVitae project.

Barely a year before the 200th anniversary of the 1820 English Settlers who occupied parts of the Eastern Cape including Makhanda, the 27th Biennial Conference of the Southern African Historical Society (SAHS) comes to Rhodes University

Rhodes University held its annual Vice-Chancellor and Thomas Alty Awards on 6 June this year. This award ceremony recognises staff who successfully completed an additional qualification either through Rhodes University or an external academic institution over the past year.

Rhodes University Library hosted their 3rd annual Research Week, which kicked off on Monday 3 June 2019. The topic for the first day involved “Research discovery, evaluation, peer reviews and Publons”.

Rhodes University hosted its 3rd annual Library Research Week last week, in support of emerging African academics and researchers.

On 12 June, a small congregation gathered to honour the launch of Larry Kauffman CSsR’s book titled; Become Love: Gradual Growth and Transformation from John to Francis.

GBS Mutual Bank has donated R600 000 to Rhodes University for educational purposes this year.

The Social Innovation (SI) Hub is an exciting new project run by Rhodes University’s Community Engagement Division that promises to bring innovation, creativity and improved digital literacy to the Makana community.

Addressing over 200 historians, artists, archivists, curators and scholars at the 27th biennial South African Historical Society (SAHS) conference, keynote speaker Professor Francis Nyamnjoh from the University of Cape Town challenged the audience to embrace their incompleteness as scholars and to borrow from one another on their journey of self-activation.

Imagine there are no longer universities, where the spaces of higher education are no longer producing knowledge. Imagine these institutions were to become obsolete. This was the issue historians were grappling with during one of the afternoon sessions on the second day of the Southern African Historical Society conference at Rhodes University, entitled: “Universities: Politics and Policies.”

Social change begins with you - the people of Makana with rich histories, complex struggles and formidable resilience. Tapping into this deep well of stories and lived experiences is the core purpose of Rhodes University’s new Social Innovation Hub - a multi-faceted digital storytelling lab launched by the Rhodes University Community Engagement Division on the chilly evening of 25 June.

Rhodes University’s Distinguished Professor Tebello Nyokong will be receiving her fourth honorary doctorate in June, this time from her alma mater Western University where she completed her PhD in Chemistry.

Prof Roy Lubke will be receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award and will be presenting “A Review of some Ecological Rehabilitation Strategies in South Africa over the last 50 years” at the LaRSSA conference in July 2019.

Rhodes University today welcomes Dr ‘Mabokang Monnapula-Mapesela as Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic and Student Affairs.

Rhodes University’s Alumni Relations held a festival cocktail in honour of homecoming classes of 1980 to 1995 on 28 June at the Senior Common Room.

A gala dinner was held on 29 June at Bantu Steve Biko Oppidan Dining Hall for Rhodes University’s Alumni classes of 1980 to 1995. The event was hosted by Dr Sizwe Mabizela and the master of ceremonies was the SRC President, Samkelo Mngadi.

Rhodes University’s Public Service Accountability Monitor (PSAM) hosted an interactive panel discussion as part of the Critical Consciousness Programme at the 45th National Arts Festival 2019 at the Amazwi South African Museum of Literature on 27 June 2019.

Since its inception, Rhodes University’s Enactus initiative has raised R150 000 for uplifting, empowering and equipping the local community.

The Vuyisile Mini Winter School is an annual initiative of the Rhodes University Neil Aggett Labour Studies Unit (NALSU), in partnership with the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) foundation – a German funding body. This year, it runs from from 9-12 July.

Dr Ulandi du Plessis, a Rhodes University PhD graduate and postdoc fellow at the Critical Studies in Sexuality and Reproduction Unit, has been recognised by the British Psychological Society’s Psychology of Women and Equalities Section (POWES) and Feminism & Psychology after her submission on the governing of pregnancy in South Africa received 72/72 from the reviewers.

Rhodes University welcomed its first ever Institutional Planning (IPU), Research and Quality Management Manager last week.

When the Department of Public Service Commission wanted to establish libraries in the former Transkei, they made funds available for Library and Information Sciences. The newly appointed Director of Rhodes University, Nomawethu Danster, was one of the beneficiaries of the fund.

The Rhodes University Community Engagement Division (RUCE) is encouraging citizens of Makana to join its Vuka! Makana initiative in honour of Nelson Mandela’s birthday this week.

Over 100 students gathered in Barratt Lecture Theatre to listen to Dr Somadoda Fikeni’s speech, which took place during the Politics and International Studies Department’s Teach-In Week.

The Political and International Studies Department hosted the second day of their annual Teach-In at Barratt Lecture Theatre on 16 July 2019.

For the first time in the history of South Africa, the African Linguistics School (ALS) was hosted by Rhodes University from 01 July to 12 July 2019.

True to Rhodes University’s vision of producing research that contributes to solving South Africa’s problems, researchers and students from several departments have recently featured prominently among the awards and keynote presentations of two events dedicated to managing and rehabilitating South Africa’s natural resources.

Rhodes University’s Research Office and Animal Research Ethics Committee (RU-AREC) hosted a successful three-day Animal Research Ethics Training course between 2-4 July at Postgraduate Village.

Rhodes University Honours student Siph’esihle Ndaba has been granted an Abe Bailey Travel Bursary and will be travelling to Ethiopia and the United Kingdom this November.

Rhodes University’s Faculty of Law hosted visiting lecturer, Max Boqwana, on 22 July for a public lecture titled: “Ethics in the legal profession”.

Rhodes University’s Enactus team won third place for the Ideation Challenge at the 2019 Enactus National Championship, held at the Sandton Convention Centre from 8-9 July.

The Silent Protest against rape and sexual violence will this year not include a march in the city’s streets.

As part of the Education Faculty’s Doc Week, on Wednesday evening, CHERTL hosted a campus-wide panel discussion on “Troubling Curriculum Change”. Read more...

The Rhodes Faculty of Education has this week (22 -26 July) hosted its second ‘Doctoral Week’ for 2019 at the Environmental Learning Research Centre (ELRC). Read more...

With just few days before the Women’s Month start, Rhodes University Sports Administration through its affiliate, the Rhodes Sports Executive Council’s Community Engagement arm, hosted its inaugural Women’s Soiree 5km Race.

Rhodes University’s Professor Russell Kaschula was invited to give the inaugural talk at the prestigious BB Mkonto lecture at Nelson Mandela University on 24 July 2019, as part of the University’s commemoration of the International Year for Indigenous Languages.

The Rhodes University Drama Department has won a Student Theatre Festival award every year since 2014, making this their sixth year of victory.

Rhodes University’s African Languages and Linguistics department held its first series of S.E.K Mqhayi tribute events this week.

A diversity of multi-sectoral civil society stakeholders including faith organisations, businesses, unemployed people, schools, rate-payers, youth and cultural organisations, met at Rhodes University on 30 July in an “unprecedented show of unity” to reflect on the challenges facing the city.

In July 2019, the Rhodes University Political and International Studies Department welcomed its 2019 Nelson Mandela Professor of Political Studies, visiting Professor Adam Ashforth, to give a public lecture.

Rhodes University’s African Languages and Linguistics Department concluded its series of S.E.K Mqhayi tribute events on 2 August 2019. The Department commemorated Mqhayi Day at Soll Amphitheatre.

Learners won a record 14 gold, 11 silver and 24 bronze medals, together with a total of 34 merit awards, at the Regional Final Eskom Expo held at Rhodes University this year.

Rhodes University PhD candidate in the Department of Economics and Economic History, Nandi Fumbata, is attending the BRICS Network University (BRICS NU) Research Seminar and Winter School, currently underway at the University of Campinas in Brazil.

Two alumni and one Rhodes University lecturer have made the SAICA Top-35-under-35 finalists list.

The Registrar of Rhodes University, Dr Adéle Moodly, held a public lecture on 5 August, posing the question: Are there divergence in perspectives pertaining to pathways of women to positions of leadership in Higher Education?

As per tradition, Rhodes University recently hosted an inaugural lecture of Professor Patrice Kabeya Mwepu, after he was conferred the status of Full Professor by the University.

The second day of Gender Week ended in an insightful conversation titled 'Debunking Deviance', facilitated by Dr Lindsay Kelland, Senior Lecturer at the Allan Gray Centre for Learning Ethics (AGCLE).

By hosting a series of open discussions and conversational panels, the aim of this year’s Gender Week has been to facilitate the process of healing and to educate the University community about gender, societal and institutional culture.

Multiple award-winning entrepreneur Johanna Mukoki graces the 2019 Rhodes University Student Entrepreneurship Week.

Opening the 2019 student entrepreneurship week, the Rhodes Business School held a student panel discussion by the attendees of the entrepreneurship development in higher education on 8 August.

The Rhodes University Commerce Extended Studies Programme (ESP) and its sponsor, Investec, recently held a dinner to celebrate past and present students.

The Banking Sector Education and Training Authority (BANKSETA) this week visited 66 Rhodes University Commerce Faculty and Information Systems and Computer Science students who are beneficiaries of the R8.1 million funding from the sector.

It was a night of glitz and glamour last night at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, as the former Rhodes University PhD student, Dr Teresa Pidduck, was awarded with a South African Institute of Professional Accountants (SAIPA) 2019 Accountancy Top Achievers Award (PhD Taxation category).

With August being Women’s Month, the Rhodes University Community Engagement (RUCE) Division acknowledged and celebrated recently retired Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chrissie Boughey, with an interview in its Engagement in Action podcast.

As the recipient of the 2018 Vice Chancellor’s Senior Distinguished Research Award, Professor Brett Pletschke presented a lecture on his research topic and findings on 14 August in the Eden Grove Blue lecture theatre.

The night of 16 August was a monumental victory for women in leadership as Rhodes University inaugurated its 2020 Student Representative Council (SRC), with a total of 13 out of 15 positions being filled by women.

The Rhodes University Student Representative Council (SRC) 2019 recently hosted their first annual Student Governance Colloquium.

Rhodes University students have entrusted a 23-year-old Pharmacy student, Katlego Mphahlele, with the role of leading the 2020 Student Representative Council (SRC).

Entrepreneur, global motivational speaker, philanthropist and travel guru, Ms Johanna Mukoki recently inspired budding entrepreneurs to be agents of change when achieving their goals, as part of Rhodes University’s Student Entrepreneurship Week.

As is the tradition, Rhodes University presented the inaugural lecture of Professor Noel Pearse titled, The Scholarship of Leadership: An illustration of the Integration of Research, Teaching & Learning and Community Engagement.

The Centre for Postgraduate Studies (CPGS) recently held a two day conference aimed at opening up the academic conversation between researchers at Rhodes University.

Rhodes University’s Centre for Postgraduate Studies (CPGS) has added a €950 000 EU-funded project to its stable of successful postgraduate support initiatives.

The latest episode of Rhodes University’s Community Engagement Division’s Engagement in Action podcast features Professor Tally Palmer, Director of the Institute of Water Research and winner of the 2018 VC’s Distinguished Community Engagement Award.

The locals were beaming with joy at the sight of a spectacle rare to the City of Saints.

Friday 23 August was day two of the informative and exciting Rhodes University Postgraduate conference.

The Rhodes University Centre for Postgraduate Studies (CPGS) closed off their annual Postgraduate Conference with a presentation from the Technology Transfer Team and a prize-giving ceremony.

Rhodes University’s Centre for Biological Control (CBC) recently released biological control agents to combat two invasive cacti species in Namibia.

Thanks to a generous bequest from Old Rhodian, Dr Abraham Faure, Rhodes University’s Old Rhodian Union (ORU) bursaries have increased more than twofold in the last year.

Rhodes University held its 69th Annual Meeting of Convocation, together with its Annual General Meeting of the Old Rhodian Union at the Gavin Relly Postgraduate Village recently.

Rhodes University’s 2019 Distinguished Alumni Awards Luncheon was presided over by the Old Rhodian Union (ORU) Vice-President, Professor James Gambiza, who introduced each of the awardees.

As part of Rhodes University’s Equity and Institutional Culture annual Disability Week, ability activist Chaeli Mycroft shared her inspiring story with the University.

Rhodes University academic, administrative, and support staff recently gathered in Eden Grove Red to celebrate those who have been in service at the University for 10, 15, 25, and 35 years.

Last week Thursday and Friday, the Steve Bantu Biko lecture theatre was bustling with activity as Rhodes University hosted a dictionary skills training workshop.

The evening of 5 September 2019 welcomed an informative and interactive lecture entitled “Renegotiating perceptions of the impaired body’ by Lebo Kibane, Enable Society’s Vice-Chairperson.

Rhodes Business School student, Ludwe Gcingca, uses old tyres to create jobs and fight against climate change.

“The time for fine words and eloquent speeches is gone,” declared Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor, Dr Sizwe Mabizela, at the second Makhanda Stakeholder Imbizo that took place at Nombulelo Senior Secondary School on Monday 16 September 2019.

On Monday 16 September, Makhanda stakeholders, including Rhodes University, the Grahamstown Business Forum (GBF), Kagiso Trust and Eastcape Midlands College, resolved to set up a Programme Management Office to lead the implementation of the Makhanda Circle of Unity stakeholders’ city advancement plan.

Learners from various local high schools came together for the annual Steve Biko Competition in Eden Grove, at Rhodes University on Saturday.

Rhodes University recently held a week-long telethon to update its Alumni database and ask for personal contributions towards the Rhodes University Oppidan Fund, in line with transformation objectives.

The Rhodes University Environmental Committee held its annual Environmental Awards ceremony at Eden Grove on 25 September. The Awards, now in their 10th year, aim to recognise achievements in the environmental sector at the University and in the greater Makhanda community that highlight measures to protect and sustain the environment.

On Friday the 20 September, the Amazwi South African Museum of Literature was abuzz with people from all walks of life who gathered to celebrate IsiXhosa as one of South Africa’s official languages.

Rhodes University Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy, Dr Nosiphiwe Ngqwala, has been selected as one of six South African finalists for TechWomen 2019.

Rhodes University is set to become one of the hubs responsible for innovative research into drug discovery that will tackle the most prevalent diseases on the African continent.

More than 100 delegates from 20 different countries around the world attended the 6th World Congress of Science and Medicine in Cricket Conference (WCSMC) in July 2019, including several Rhodes University representatives.

Young minds converged at the Southern Sun Hotel, OR Tambo International Airport, last week (18th-19th Sept) to compete in the 1st National Intervarsity Studentpreurship Challenge.

Rhodes University’s growing number of engaged research outputs has positioned the institution a national leader in the scholarship of engagement discipline.

Rhodes University, in collaboration with Allan Gray, recently hosted the Allan Gray Academic Achievement Awards Ceremony during which the top achievers in certain courses that may be taken in degrees offered by the University’s Faculties of Commerce, Science and Humanities were celebrated and awarded prizes.

The Rhodes Business School hosted its 5th Archbishop Thabo Makgoba Development Trust annual lecture on Values Based Leadership on 3 October 2019, with Gift of the Givers Foundation’s Dr Imtiaz Sooliman as guest speaker.

On 8 October, the Law Faculty’s Visiting Professor and Judge of Appeal in the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA), Clive Plasket, delivered a public lecture in the Moot Room at Rhodes University.

Rhodes University’s Ethical Standards Committee recently held its first Disaster Management workshop, in collaboration with The International Emergency Management Society (TIEMS).

On 10 October 2019, the Student Representative Council (SRC) hosted family, friends, congregants and colleagues for the first annual memorial of Rev Dr Simon Gqubule, who was Rhodes University’s first black PhD graduate (1978).

Investec Rhodes Top 100 recently celebrated its 10th-year anniversary with a night of inspiration, hope and honour.

As the recipient of the 2018 Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Research Award, Professor Caroline Khene presented a lecture on her award-winning research on Information Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D) on 9 October, at Eden Grove Blue Lecture Theatre, Rhodes University.

After receiving thousands of entries from across the country and putting the entrants through a rigorous judging process, South Africa’s Top 10 university students have been unearthed from across the country, chosen from the Top 100 identified by the GradStar programme, now in its fourth year.

When Old Rhodians, Toni Parsons (37) and James Rycroft (36), decided to tie the knot just over a week ago, they asked guests to their wedding to consider donating money to settle students’ fee debts at their alma mater, Rhodes University, instead of the usual gift registries.

The Rhodes University Faculty of Pharmacy recently held its third annual White Coat Ceremony at Eden Grove Red to inaugurate first-year students into the pharmacy profession.

As part of the two-day Forensic Linguistics Colloquium held by the NRF SARChI Chair in the Intellectualisation of African Languages, Multilingualism and Education on 9 and 10 October, guest speaker Professor Monwabisi Ralarala presented his research on the anomalies in police record construction and sworn statements within some cases in the South African Police Service (SAPS).

Acting Chairperson of the Rhodes University Language Committee, Dr Hleze Kunju, announced the revised Language Policy and Committee directives during Rhodes University’s School of Languages’ two-day Forensic Linguistics Colloquium.

Dr 'Mabokang Monnapula-Mapesela, DVC: Academic and Student Affairs at Rhodes University, recently attended an Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) roundtable which included, among others, HRH The Duchess of Sussex.

The 2019 Rhodes University Department of Economics Postgraduate Conference was held on 4 and 5 October at the Barratt Lecture Theatre.

Collaboration between students and supervisors is key, explained Professor Monwabisi Ralarala the Director of the Fundani Center for Higher Education, CPUT and Chairperson of the African Language Association of South Africa (ALASA), at a recent book launch at Rhodes University.

Rhodes University Business School student, Cuma Dube, has been awarded the Young Professional’s Award by Black Management Forum (BMF).

For the first time in the history of the South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC) Pioneer Pharmacy Awards, one of the 2019 Pioneer Pharmacy Awards has been awarded to an academic.

In its closing event for the year, Rhodes University’s Office of Equity and Institutional Culture, together with Department of Political and International Relations, held ‘The Trial of Caster Semenya’ seminar at Eden Grove.

Earlier this month, the digital platform for the global project, Common Good First was launched at a Social Innovation for Digital Storytelling Symposium in Cape Town, South Africa.

Homage was recently paid to Prof EM Stack (Lilla) at a ceremony held at the University of Pretoria (UP).

The Rhodes University School of Journalism and Media Studies (JMS) held the first of its final two seminars for the year on 14 October, with the much anticipated visit of University of Coimbra’s (Portugal) Sociology Professor Boaventura de Sousa Santos, at the Eden Grove Lecture Complex.

The Rhodes University School of Journalism and Media Studies (JMS) held a collaborative film seminar, Kindo Kadre and the Dream of the Cinema: Outside, Against and Beyond the Abyss, with the Kino Kadre Community Cinema Circle at the Fingo Village Library in Makhanda. The seminar formed part of the Mellon 30th Anniversary Seminar Programme hosted by the JMS in October.

Rhodes University English Language and Linguistics students handed over personal libraries to Samuel Ntsiko Primary School learners after their Linguistics and Community Service-Learning module recently came to an end.

When Mathabo Tlali dropped out of Rhodes University six years ago, she never expected she would have the courage to go back to university.

Senior Research Associate at Rhodes University’s Cory Library, Dr Sandra Rowoldt Shell, recently spoke at the 33rd annual Oromo Studies Association (OSA) conference, which was held on ‘home ground’ for the first time in history.

Rhodes University's Research Associate, Dr Andy Moore, has been involved in a ground-breaking new study that has revealed Southern Africa as the birthplace of modern humans (Homo sapiens sapiens), who lived in a "homeland" in the region for 70 000 years before some migrated due to a shift in climate.

Rhodes University academics, international researchers and project industry partners recently met at Morgan Bay Hotel to develop work plans and protoype plans for advancing sustainable aquaculture technologies that reduce the carbon footprint of fish farming practices.

The annual Postgraduate Student Cocktail function took place on 7 November 2019 in honour of 77 outstanding postgraduate students at Rhodes University.

The Rhodes University community is deeply saddened by the passing of Dr Allan William Buchanan Gray. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Gill, daughter Jennifer, and his two sons, William and Trevor.

Rhodes University School of Journalism and Sociology alumna, Andiswa Matikinca, has been awarded a regional Young Journalist of the year award by Vodacom, who held its 18th annual Vodacom Journalist of the Year Awards across the provinces.

Delegates from as far as the People’s Republic of China (PRC) travelled to Makhanda to celebrate the opening of the new model Confucius Institute Centre at Rhodes University on 9 November.

According to the National Health Research Ethics Council (NHREC) 2015 Guidelines, “All REC members should have documented proof of research ethics training, refreshed at least once within the period of appointment”. To meet these requirements, an accredited training session was held for all members of Rhodes University’s Human Ethics Committee in October.

Long-serving Alumni Relations Officer, Terryl Mc Carthy (52), died suddenly at her home in Makhanda/Grahamstown on Saturday 16 November. She leaves behind her husband, Kevin, and two children, Tayla and Ryan, an Honours student at Rhodes University.

Rhodes University’s leadership welcomed the newest group of staff members to the University on 13 November. The event provided a space for new and established staff members to meet and get to know one another.

The Higher Education Learning & Teaching Association of Southern Africa (HELTASA) Conference, hosted by the Centre for Higher Education Research, Teaching and Learning (CHERTL) will return to Rhodes University almost a decade after they last hosted the Conference.

Dr Peter Clayton, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation, officially opened Rhodes University’s Open Access Day on 20 November 2019 at the Main Library.

Earlier this month, the Faculty of Pharmacy held their annual Research Methodologies Presentation Day, where final-year students presented their research findings on various projects.

The five finalists of the Distell National Playwright Competition of 2020 have been announced.