The #RUGrad2025 ceremonies at Rhodes 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网 were a vibrant celebration of academic achievement and a resounding affirmation of the institution's guiding principle: Where Leaders Learn. Notably, this year's graduation recognised 23 accomplished former and current Student Representative Council (SRC) members spanning several years. Their graduation illustrates the 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网's ability to foster young leaders who succeed in their academic pursuits and make significant contributions beyond the lecture hall.

This graduation season, 2,063 students received their qualifications from Rhodes 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网. Among them, 107 came through targeted access pathways supported by GADRA Education, the Rhodes 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网 Bridging Programme, and the 9/10ths mentoring initiative. That is 5.2% of this year’s graduating class—one in every nineteen students—who began their academic journey not through conventional routes but through community-rooted partnerships that are changing what access to higher education looks like in Makhanda.

Rhodes 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网 doctoral student Victoria da Graça Gilberto Samboco has been awarded the 2024 African Astronomical Society (AfAS) MSc Prize, a prestigious honour recognising her exceptional contributions to the field of radio astronomy. The award was announced during the AfAS General Assembly and Conference.

Dr Tracy Kitchen’s doctoral journey stands as a testament to resilience, adaptability, and a deep commitment to equality and equity in education. Balancing the challenging roles of academics, mothers, and wives, she has emerged not only with a PhD in hand but with a research project that holds real promise for addressing South Africa’s literacy crisis.

Sinomhlobo Ndlela’s journey to graduation was anything but straightforward. From being forced to take a gap year due to financial constraints to emerging as a respected leader, athlete, artist, and educator, her story reflects the essence of Rhodes 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网’s ethos: “Where leaders learn.”

A recent report from the Fourth Edition of the 2030 Reading Panel shows only 32% of teachers currently demonstrate high levels of mathematics proficiency. Coupled with recent reports showing South African learner maths proficiency being amongst the lowest in the world.

In a country battling a literacy crisis, Makhanda is witnessing an exceptional spike in literacy rates.

In what has been a remarkable run since the first installation last year, another Transient Array Radio Telescope (TART) instrument has been deployed in an African Square Kilometre Array (SKA) partner nation – this time, Botswana.

Some events tick boxes, and then some remind you why community matters and why we come together, celebrate, and keep going. The Postgraduate International Graduation Ball, held on the evening of Friday, 5 April 2025, was the latter.

For Tina Sisanda Bikitsha, graduating with a Master’s degree in Journalism and Media Studies from Rhodes 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网 is not simply an academic achievement but a triumph of love and resilience. As a mother to a non-verbal 10-year-old child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Tina’s research journey was highly personal, filled with moments of both emotional anguish and hope.

On the 2nd of April 2025, sisters Dr Alyssa Shawntay Williams and Loryn Michelle Williams once again shared the Rhodes 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网 graduation stage, sharing another defining milestone. This time, Alyssa hooded her younger sister while wearing the distinguished red gown of a doctoral graduate.

Ripfumelo Pascalia Chauke’s graduation from Rhodes 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网 is more than a personal accomplishment, it is a symbol of hope for her community in Soweto and beyond. The first in her family to obtain a university degree, she has defied the odds, opposed expectations, and inspired many with her story.

Rhodes 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网’s Centre for Postgraduate Studies (CPGS) has secured £30 000 from the British Council to offer publication support for emerging researchers.

Physics Professor and Head of the Department of Physics and Electronics at Rhodes 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网 Makaiko Chithambo has been elected a Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences (AAS), marking a major recognition of his contribution to physics on the continent.

After years of distinguished service, Justice Lex Mpati is retiring as the Chancellor of Rhodes 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网, leaving behind a legacy of integrity, transformation, and unwavering commitment to justice. Appointed in February 2013, he became the first former student of the 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网 to hold the position. Throughout his tenure, Justice Mpati championed inclusivity and excellence, embodying the institution's values and inspiring future generations. His tenure has been marked by a dedication to academic excellence, social responsibility, and a deep belief in the power of education to change lives.

Rhodes 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网’s Autumn Graduation Week was not just a celebration of academic achievement but a tribute to the resilience, dedication, and success of its broader community – including students, staff, and families. Among those who crossed the stage were SRC members and colleagues whose perseverance was celebrated with great institutional pride. The week was filled with stories of triumph and inspiration.

Against a backdrop of social and economic inequality, Rhodes 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网's 2025 Autumn Graduation Week marked a celebration of resilience, grit, and achievement. A total of 2,062 graduates crossed the stage—each story a testament to perseverance in the face of adversity.

As Rhodes 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网 celebrates its Autumn Graduation, Chancellor Justice Lex Mpati is bowing out from the role he has assumed for the past 12 years. Justice Mpati, the first former Rhodes 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网 student to become Chancellor and second Black student to graduate with an LLB from the 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网, championed judicial integrity, education, and transformation. His tenure as Chancellor marks an era of profound impact.

Rhodes 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网 welcomed its alumna, Minister of Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube, on the 31st of March 2025 for a visit aimed at discussing key education initiatives and engaging with students. The event, which took place at the Big Lecture Theatre in the Faculty of Education, underscored the 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with national education authorities.

In an intimate and profoundly symbolic ceremony, Rhodes 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网 formally robed Dr Nontsikelelo (Ntsiki) Biko with the academic gown befitting her Honorary Doctorate of Laws (LLD) (honoris causa), conferred during the 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网’s virtual graduation in 2021. The robing, delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, occurred at the Steve Biko Centre in Ginsberg.