Last week, Rhodes University made history by hosting the 2023 Top 100 Awards in partnership with the Allan Gray Centre for Leadership Ethics (AGCLE).

On 05 October 2023, the Rhodes Business School hosted its 9th Annual Archbishop Thabo Makgoba Trust Lecture in the Eden Grove Lecture Theatre to explore values-based leadership and its impact on sustainable business practices in our complex, ever-evolving world.

On 03 October 2023, Professor Stephen Anthony Prevec delivered his inaugural lecture titled "My four decades of geological pursuit: Are we there yet?" This significant occasion marked the evolution of his academic journey and contributions to Earth Science.

Scientists and engineers from nine African countries, including South Africa, have converged at Rhodes University in Makhanda to share knowledge in building a low-cost radio telescope called the ‘Transient Array Radio Telescope’ or TART. The workshop takes place at Rhodes’ Continuing Education Centre from 9 to 13 October 2023, where participants will learn to assemble the instrument, get to understand the electronics and gain hands-on experience using the data acquired by TART.

The Rhodes University Community Engagement (RUCE) Awards is an annual ceremony that honours the outstanding efforts and dedication of individual students, residences, societies and community partner organisations who have made significant contributions to community involvement initiatives. This event not only acknowledges the dedicated work of students, staff, and community partners but also serves as a platform to encourage others to engage meaningfully with local communities.

On 03 October 2023, Rhodes University hosted Professor Clive Plasket for his final public lecture as a Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Law.

On 19 September 2023, the Office for Equity and Institutional Culture and the Student Representative Council (SRC), hosted a remarkable event at the Oppidan Dining Hall. This event featured a distinguished guest speaker, Landa Mabenge, the author of "Becoming Him: A Trans Memoir of Triumph," who shared his invaluable experiences on the path to self-acceptance and empowerment.

Rhodes University recently joined partner universities from Kenya and the Netherlands for a Summer School hosted by Maseno University as part of the ongoing EU-funded Creating Postgraduate Collaborations project [https://postgradcollaborations.com]. The Summer School focused on developing grant development and management skills, in line with the goals of supporting international cooperation projects based on multilateral partnerships between organisations.

The 2023 Pride Week opening brought together a diverse audience eager to delve into the intersection of LGBTQIA+ rights and religious interpretation

On Friday, 13 October 2023, at 09h30, a graduation ceremony for Rhodes University masters and PhD graduands will take place at the Settlers Monument in Makhanda, and renowned freedom fighter Bishop Peter Storey will receive a Doctor of Laws (honoris causa).

The Rhodes University Division of Student Services and Development (DSSD), in collaboration with the Health Care Centre (HCC) and the Residential Operations, held a breakfast at the Oppidan Dining Hall last week to raise breast cancer awareness.

Nature-based solutions (NbS) are actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural and modified ecosystems that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, simultaneously benefiting people and nature. NbS go beyond, and complement, land restoration for stemming the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services, through the incorporation of nature-conscious design principles. These solutions enhance the availability of water, improve water quality and reduce risks of water-related disasters.

In the heart of a bustling university campus, where academic pursuits often take precedence, one postgraduate student decided to bring life back to a neglected space. Chuma Songela, a 28-year-old graduate student who recently completed his Masters in Politics and International studies, embarked on a journey that transformed a forgotten garden at the Gavin Relly Postgraduate Village (PGV) and brought a sense of community and purpose to his life.

Last week, Rhodes University hosted an evening on the Commercialisation of Research themed “Transforming ideas into impact”. Vice-Chancellor Professor Sizwe Mabizela, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation, and Strategic Partnerships, Dr Nomakwezi Mzilikazi, Associate Professor and Head of Political and International Studies, Professor Siphokazi Magadla, Economics Professor and Head of Department, Professor Jen Snowball, distinguished guests, and students.

A recent men's Dialogue hosted by Higher Health in collaboration with the Eastern Cape Liquor Board at Rhodes University featured a panel of men from all walks of life discussing and addressing topics about manhood and masculinity.

Rhodes University lecturer in the Department of Drama, Gavin Krastin, was recently honoured for his work in theatre and performance with the prestigious Forty under 40 Award. The event was held at the Houghton Hotel earlier this month and hosted and supported by the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, the National Youth Development Agency and Xodus Communications.

Rhodes University Faculty of Law LLM Candidate, Tafadzwa Mavindidze, has been announced as the first-place recipient of the prestigious South African Law Reform Legal Essay Competition (SALRC) prize for 2023.

Rhodes University recently celebrated its retiring staff members during a memorable tree-planting tradition held on campus. Among them was Professor Justin Jonas, referred to by Dr Bernie Faranoff as the “spiritual guru of the SKA”. Prof Jonas first enrolled as a student at Rhodes University in 1976.

The African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) and The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities (The Guild) have launched a new Africa-Europe Clusters of Research Excellence (CoRE) on Creative Economies: Cultures, Innovation and Sustainability, which includes Rhodes University.

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.