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.

Rhodes University 2023 Student Representative Council (SRC) Sports and Societies Councillor, Buhle Luthuli, has been selected as the 2023 ambassador of the International University Sports Federation (FISU).

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.