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.