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

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

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

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

As South Africans celebrate Heritage Month, attention often turns to food, music, and traditional dress - the colourful symbols of culture. But beneath these celebrations lies an important question: how can heritage be a tool for transformation, and how can we ensure that all voices in our country are heard and recognised?

Rhodes University is proud to announce the unanimous election of Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga as the new Chancellor of the University with effect from 10 October this year.

Rhodes University’s Centre for Postgraduate Studies (CPGS) ushered in two days of vibrant intellectual exchange during its annual postgraduate and postdoctoral conference on 12–13 September 2025. This year’s theme, “Reimagining Research Futures Ten Years After #MustFall – Local and Global Shifts,” sparked rich dialogue and reflection on the enduring legacy of the #MustFall movements. A decade later, participants revisited their transformative impact on research, equity, and knowledge production while engaging with evolving global political landscapes. The conference underscored the strategic imperative to pursue inclusive, responsive, and socially impactful research, ensuring that the lessons of #MustFall continue to shape scholarship both locally and globally.

When Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) Commissioner and Rhodes University alumnus Unathi Kamlana rose to deliver the 11th Archbishop Thabo Makgoba Development Trust Annual Lecture, he did not begin with markets or policy. He began with values.

Rhodes University condemns the ongoing atrocities of the Israeli government against the people of Gaza. The relentless bombardment, the destruction of homes, schools, universities and other tertiary institutions, hospitals, and vital infrastructure, and the deliberate deprivation of food, water, electricity and medical aid are unconscionable crimes against humanity.

The announcement of the Sasol New Signatures award winners is a defining moment in the South African arts calendar, an annual demonstration of the nation's burgeoning creative talent. The Rhodes University Fine Art Department is celebrating a historic achievement this year. Two of its students from the Fine Art Practice program, specialising in Sculpture, were recognised for their ground-breaking work. It is worth noting that the Main Fine Art building is a gracious historic structure with the distinction of being the first purpose-built art school in the country.

Studying the Arts comes with unique challenges. Across South Africa, countless talented students brim with creative passion, yet opportunities to fund their education remain scarce. Unlike fields such as commerce or the sciences, where structured bursaries are more readily available, Arts students often stand on the margins – making every award, every act of support, all the more life-changing.

Samkelo Ntobeko Vukani Mngadi, University of South Africa (Unisa) lecturer and Rhodes University Student Representative Council (SRC) President of 2019, is the new University’s Convocation President.

Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sizwe Mabizela, announced the 2025 recipients of the coveted Distinguished Alumni Award at the Annual General Meeting of Convocation on Saturday, 06 September 2025. These individuals have significantly contributed to their respective fields and upheld the university’s academic excellence and leadership legacy.

It is with immense sorrow that Rhodes University mourns the passing of Dr Gordon Mitchell Cragg, a towering figure in the field of natural products and drug discovery and recipient of the University's highest honour, an Honorary Doctorate. His contributions profoundly enriched the scientific landscape, and his loss is deeply felt by the global community he served.

A new chapter of excellence is unfolding in Makhanda’s education system, driven by a strong partnership between Rhodes University, GADRA Education and local schools. GADRA, the city’s leading youth-focused education NGO, has long championed the belief that teachers are the true architects of change. The Makhanda Teacher Awards honour those educators who go above and beyond for their learners, recognising their critical role in ensuring every child receives the education they deserve.

To celebrate its 120th anniversary in 2025, Rhodes University's Faculty of Law has officially named its historic building, Lincoln House, "Lex Mpati House". To honour this significant milestone, the university has formally named its iconic Law Building in honour of distinguished alumnus and outgoing Chancellor Justice Lex Mpati, a key figure in South African jurisprudence. The celebration also marks the launch of "The Law 120 Legacy Wall," a fundraising initiative to support current and future students.

When the newly-refurbished Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences building at Rhodes University officially launched this week, it was about much more than upgraded lecture halls, laboratories, and offices. It marked the completion of a vision that places Rhodes University at the forefront of interdisciplinary research designed not just to teach, but to tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

When Professor Eureta Rosenberg, Dean of Education at Rhodes University, stepped up to deliver her inaugural lecture, she was quick to point out it was eight years late. But the delay only made her message more urgent.

Feminism and the act of confronting patriarchy are essential for creating a more equitable and just society. Patriarchy is a social system in which men hold primary power and predominate in political leadership, moral authority, social privilege, and property control. It is not just about individual men but about a deeply ingrained system of norms, values, and institutions that have historically privileged men and marginalised women and other gender identities. Confronting patriarchy is a crucial step in achieving feminist goals. It is about challenging the root causes of inequality rather than just the symptoms.

In a world grappling with the twin challenges of youth unemployment and food insecurity, a new generation of leaders is emerging with innovative solutions. One such leader is Phindile Sithole, a PhD scholar at the Environmental Learning Research Centre (ELRC) at Rhodes University. Her work is at the forefront of a groundbreaking initiative, demonstrating how a childhood passion for growing food (inspired by her grandmother) can be cultivated into a powerful, youth-led movement for change. Nominated for her exceptional leadership, Phindile is a key member of the ELRC's YOMA (UNICEF Youth Open MarketPlace) Youth-Led Innovation Team, where she is driving the co-design of "Co-Engaged Learn-to-Earn Pathways" for unemployed young people.