Rhodes University celebrates 120 years of academic excellence- #RU120

Rhodes University’s 120^th anniversary project in 2024 is a year-long celebratory programme packed with diverse activities, including reunions, high-level societal debates, unveilings, exhibitions and cultural activities, which started with a seminal education summit to further strengthen quality education as Makhanda’s unique selling point.

Convened under the auspices of the Vice-Chancellor’s Education Initiative championed by Professor Sizwe Mabizela, the multi-stakeholder summit was the first of its kind in the country. https://www.ru.ac.za/latestnews/makhandaeducationsummitpavingthewayforaneweraineducationalexcellenc.html

The RU120 events calendar includes academic and research showcases such as the initiation of the Internet in South Africa in 1991, a game-changing project in which Project Sponsor for RU120, Professor Peter Clayton, was involved, community engagement accomplishments that saw the University win the Mac Jannet Global Citizen Prize https://www.ru.ac.za/latestnews/rhodesuniversityisfirstsauniversitytowintopspotformacjannetglobalci.html and launch the Community Engagement journal – another first for Africa – and the teaching and learning statistical data that sets Rhodes University apart as the cauldron of scholarly excellence.

Highlights on the RU120 programme include:

Vice-Chancellors from different Eastern Cape universities in dialogue addressing pressing social, economic, political, and ethical concerns.
High-level current affairs reflections and debates.
A Journalism Summit to explore journalism’s role in today’s world as the cornerstone of democracy and human advancement.
High-level political, community and business leaders are scheduled to contribute to meaningful discussions about the future of South Africa.
Emeritus History Professor, accomplished author and the University’s longest-serving Orator, Paul Maylam, explores Rhodes University’s intellectual history.
Bringing the present and future into sharper focus, the grand opening of the R90 million Institute for Nanotechnology Innovation building will take place – which will house the ground-breaking research being done by Professor Nyokong and her dedicated students.

From sports festivals to parades and art exhibitions, celebrants will not be short on cultural options to explore. An orchestral ensemble comprising the Nelson Mandela University Orchestra, the Rhodes University Orchestra, and the Makhanda Community Orchestra will forge a memorable auditory backdrop for the year.

Towards the end of the year, a legendary reunion is planned, bringing together some of the oldest alumni who fondly refer to themselves as ‘Knocking on Heaven’s Door’. These individuals, who vividly recall their early 1970s protests advocating for the inclusion of Black students at Rhodes University, have aptly named their bittersweet gathering ‘The Final Countdown’.

RU120 is more than just a celebration – it is a strategic and inclusive initiative that aims to address contemporary challenges like student debt and educational reform strategically, Prof Mabizela says: “This multifaceted approach, predicated on diversity and collaboration between stakeholders, symbolises a significant step in honouring the past, engaging with the present, and envisioning continued positive future impact on the community and the broader educational landscape”.

For more information on everything RU120-related, please visit the regularly updated official RU120 website https://ru120.ru.ac.za/