Rhodes University Celebrates Excellence in Community Engagement at 14th Annual RUCE Awards

By: Ephreeda Banda

"Community engagement is not a once-off act, not charity, but a way of life." With these closing words, Vice-Chancellor Professor Sizwe Mabizela captured the spirit of Rhodes University's 14th Annual Community Engagement (RUCE) Awards. The ceremony was not simply an evening of recognition but a powerful reminder that Rhodes University belongs to Makhanda and that its strength comes from walking alongside communities to bring lasting change.

The awards, guided by partnership, leadership, and love, honoured students, staff, and community partners who have given their time, energy, and creativity to projects that continue transforming lives.

Anchored in the Community

In her welcoming remarks, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs, Professor Mabokang Monnapula-Mapesela, reminded those gathered that community is not an add-on to the university's mission, but a core function of what Rhodes University stands for.

She reflected on the progress since RUCE was established in 2007, pointing to service-learning in the curriculum, faculty-level community engagement committees, social innovation hubs, and the African Journal of Higher Education Community Engagement launched in 2023. More recently, Rhodes University became the first South African university to offer a SAQA accredited Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education Community Engagement.

"These achievements are not only institutional milestones," she said. "They represent our vision of developing socially aware graduates who can walk with communities and co-create solutions for a just society."

A Decade of Transformation

For RUCE Director, Di Hornby, the evening carried historic weight, marking the first time in 14 years that the Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellors attended the awards together. Their presence, she noted, underscored how deeply community engagement is embedded in the University's vision.

Hornby highlighted the progress of the Vice-Chancellor's Education Initiative, a decade-long project that has reshaped the educational landscape of Makhanda. In 2012, only 11 local learners enrolled at Rhodes University. In 2025, nearly 200 Makhanda learners were admitted, many of them graduates of the 9/10ths Matric Mentoring Programme - Rhodes University's flagship initiative co-managed with GADRA Education. The programme began with two schools and now reaches five. It provides Grade 12 learners with structured mentoring, guidance, and access to opportunities that once seemed out of reach.

"Things don't happen in isolation," Hornby reminded the audience. "We can go far when we walk together."

The scale of impact in 2025 was remarkable. 970 Rhodes student volunteers participated in community engagement projects, supported by 110 student leaders and 47 community partners. Ninety staff participated in Faculty led Service Learning Programmes reaching 2,500 students. Meanwhile, the Masakhe Economic Development Programme and the Social Innovation Hub injected R4.4 million into the local economy by training small businesses, providing equipment for enterprises, strengthening them and then ultimately registering them as suppliers on the Rhodes data base.

Stories of Impact

The evening also showcased stories of transformation through a screening of the VC's Education Story video, which captured the voices of student leaders and learners. The 9/10ths Programme participants reflected on how mentoring shaped their confidence, aspirations, and belief in higher education. One student leader said, "I can be what others were for me."

For many learners, the programme was more than academic support; it was about being positioned mentally and emotionally for success. One reflection said, "It's about how the child is prepared for the future, not just in knowledge, but in how they see themselves."

Recognising Excellence

Awards on the night celebrated the diversity of contributions to community engagement. Community Partner of the Year went to Holy Cross School for its innovative integration of music education in partnership with Rhodes University Music School student volunteers. Drostdy Hall was named Hall of the Year for its work with Noncedo Pre-School, linking community projects to UN Sustainable Development Goals. SWEEP Rhodes, the Student Women Economic Empowerment Programme's Rhodes University Chapter, earned Society of the Year for its entrepreneurial education initiatives and sanitary towel drives. Engaged Researcher of the Year was awarded to Sambesiwe Mavela, whose research and practice in community music education demonstrated the transformative power of the arts. The Gold Awards for Excellence in Community Engagement honoured 10 exceptional student leaders across diverse fields, from literacy mentoring to science tutoring. While all were recognised, Sibulele Ngamntwini was announced as the 2025 overall winner for her consistent leadership in the BuddingQ Literacy Programme and her ability to mobilise peers and partners to create lasting change.

A Student Voice

Sambesiwe Mavela embodied the spirit of reciprocity that defines RUCE. "This award is significant because it acknowledges my work's academic and community dimensions. It is a personal achievement and a celebration of the communities, participants, and mentors who trusted me with their experiences. It motivates me to continue bridging the gap between research and practice, always keeping communities at the heart of my work."

For Akimu Rajab, recognised in the Top 10 of the Gold Awards, the honour was a reminder of how far he has come, "Being part of the Top 10 in community engagement is more than recognition, it's a celebration of resilience, leadership, and the power of community. Community engagement has shaped me into the person I am today. It's taught me humility, patience, and the importance of listening before acting. Through leading programmes like 9/10ths, I've grown as a leader, mentor, and learner, realising that service is not about giving what you have but creating spaces where others can grow and thrive."

A Vision for the Future

The evening closed with Vice-Chancellor Prof Mabizela's heartfelt reflection on Rhodes University's role in Makhanda's future. "Community engagement is central to who we are as a university," he said. "It provides skills, knowledge and experiences that cannot be found in a classroom. Positive change is not only possible, but always within our grasp. We must commit with conviction and passion, knowing that community engagement is not an act of charity but a way of life."

His words echoed throughout the hall, a reminder that Rhodes University's vision of being a globally engaged, locally responsive institution depends on its continued commitment to reciprocity, compassion, and collective responsibility.

More Than Awards

The 14th RUCE Awards were not just a celebration of achievements. They were a collective recommitment to the idea that Rhodes University does not exist apart from Makhanda but as part of it. From literacy and mentoring to entrepreneurship and music, the evening showed how students, staff, and partners are reshaping education and opportunity in the city.

As Rhodes University looks ahead, the challenge remains to deepen impact and nurture engaged scholarship. Yet, as the awards demonstrated, the foundation for a just and sustainable society is already laid, one project, partnership, and engaged citizen at a time.