Rhodes University

Rhodes University

public research university

Year dem found am	1904
Native label	Rhodes University
Affiliate plus	Association of African Universities
Dem name after	Cecil Rhodes
Country	South Africa
Coordinate location	33°18′49″S 26°31′11″E
Member of	South African National Library and Information Consortium, ORCID, Inc., African Library and Information Associations and Institutions, Association of African Universities
Demma headquarters location	Makhanda
Dema official website	https://www.ru.ac.za/

Rhodes University (Afrikaans: Rhodes Universiteit) be public research university wey dey locate insyd Makhanda (Grahamstown) insyd de Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Ebe one of four universities insyd de province.

dem establish am insyd 1904, Rhodes University be de province ein oldest university, den de sixth oldest South African university for continuous operation, de University of the Free State (1904), University of Witwatersrand (1896), University of South Africa (1873) as de University of the Cape of Good Hope, Stellenbosch University (1866) den de University of Cape Town (1829) precede am. Na dem found Rhodes insyd 1904 as Rhodes University College, dem name after Cecil Rhodes, thru grant from de Rhodes Trust. E cam turn constituent college of de University of South Africa insyd 1918 before e cam turn independent university insyd 1951.

De university get enrollment of over 8,000 students insyd de 2015 academic year, of whom just over 3,600 live insyd 51 residences for campus top, plus de rest (dem know as Oppidans) wey dey take residence insyd digs (off-campus residences) anaa for dema own homes for de town insyd.

History

View of High Street wey dey look west from de corner of Hill Street towards de Drostdy Arch, de main entrance to de present-day Rhodes University campus. Circa 1898

De Sir Herbert Baker clock tower at de heart of de Rhodes campus. Na dem design de clock tower by Herbert Baker insyd 1910 wey he construct am insyd subsequent years.

Although dem make proposal make dem found university insyd Grahamstown as early as 1902, financial problems cause by de Frontier Wars insyd Albany prevent de proposal from make dem implement am. Insyd 1904 Leander Starr Jameson issue £50 000 preferred stock to de university from de Rhodes Trust. Plus dis funding na dem Rhodes University College by act of parliament for 31 May 1904.

University education insyd de Eastern Cape begin for de college departments of four schools insyd: St. Andrew's College; Gill College, Somerset East; Graaff-Reinet College; den de Grey Institute insyd Port Elizabeth. De four St Andrew's College professors, Arthur Matthews, George Cory, Stanley Kidd den G. F. Dingemans cam turn founding professors of Rhodes University College.

For de beginning of 1905, Rhodes move from cramped quarters for St Andrew's go de Drostdy building, wich na e buy from de British Government. Rhodes cam turn constituent college of de fresh University of South Africa insyd 1918 wey e continue dey expand for size insyd. Wen de future of de University of South Africa cam under review insyd 1947, Rhodes opt make e cam turn independent university.

Na dem inaugurate Rhodes University for 10 March 1951. Sir Basil Schonland, son of Selmar Schonland, cam turn de first chancellor of ein alma mater, den Dr. Thomas Alty de first vice-chancellor. For terms of de Rhodes University Private Act, na de University College of Fort Hare be affiliate to Rhodes University. Dis mutually beneficial arrangement continue til de apartheid government decide make e disaffiliate Fort Hare from Rhodes. De Rhodes Senate den Council object strongly to dis, den to de Separate University Education Bill, wich na dem condemn as interference plus academic freedom. However, na dem pass de two bills, wey Fort Hare ein affiliation to Rhodes cam end insyd 1959. Nevertheless, insyd 1962 dem confer honorary doctorate for de state presido, C. R. Swart top, wey (as Minister of Justice after 1948) na he be responsible for de repression of opposition political organisations. De award cause de resignation of de chancellor, Sir Basil Schonland, although dem no make ein reasons public for de time.

James Hyslop succeed Alty insyd 1963. Insyd 1971, Rhodes negotiate make e purchase de teacher training college dem close run by de sistos of de Community of de Resurrection of our Lord wey dey include de buildings den grounds den number of adjacent buildings, wey dey facilitate further expansion.

Campus

During 2008 work begin for construction of fresh library building at cost of R85 million, one of de largest infrastructure projects undertake by de university, wey na dem plete insyd 2010.

Organisation den administration

Faculties den Schools

Rhodes get six faculties, dem list below:

• Humanities (1952)
• Commerce
• Law
• Science
• Education
• Pharmacy

Dem further subdivide de six faculties into 30 academic departments, of wich 11 dey form part of de humanities faculty. De humanities faculty, be de largest insyd de university, dey consist of 40% of de student intake of undergraduate den postgraduate studies, wey dey enroll 2669 students as of 2009.

Law Clinic

Rhodes University dey operate Law Clinic, wich dey operate as firm of attorneys wey dey provide training to law students den free legal services give indigent people. De Law Clinic dey operate from two offices, one insyd Makhanda den one insyd Komani. De Law Clinic cam to national attention insyd July 2013 wen e represent 15 members of Nelson Mandela ein family for dema litigation against Mandla Mandela (Nelson Mandela ein grandson) wey dey concern de location of family grave sites.

Academics

Rhodes be small, highly residential university. For most undergraduates, dem dey do first den second years of study while dem dey live insyd campus residences.

Rhodes ein academic program dey operate for semester calendar, wey dey begin insyd early-February go early-June, den de second semester wey dey begin insyd late-July den ending late-November.

Undergraduate tuition for de first year of study insyd 2011 towards Bachelor of Arts den Bachelor of Science degree na ebe R26,590 den R27,720, respectively, den de cost of board na ebe between R35,700 den R37,600.

Student body

Rhodes admit 1,592 students insyd 2012.

De tables below dey show de racial den gender composition of de university for dat year.

Racial composition of student body (2012)

	Undergraduate	Postgraduate	Eastern Cape	South Africa
Black	54%	49%	86.3%	79.6%
Coloured	4%	3%	8.3%	9%
White	38%	44%	4.7%	8.9%
Asian	4%	4%	0.4%	2.5%

Gender composition of student body (2012)

	Black	Coloured	White	Asian	All students	South Africa
Female	61%	67%	53%	61%	58%	51%
Male	39%	33%	47%	39%	42%	49%

SARChi Chairs

Rhodes dey hold fourteen of de national research chairs dem appoint under de South African Research Chairs Initiative. Dis dey account for approximately 7% of de total awarded nationally insyd South Africa, significant proportion given de university ein small size.

• Critical Studies in Sexualities and Reproduction: Human and Social Dynamics (Catriona Macleod)
• Marine Ecosystems (Christopher McQuaid)
• Radio Astronomy Techniques and Technologies (Oleg Smirnov)
• Medicinal Chemistry and Nanotechnology (Tebello Nyokong)
• Mathematics Education (Marc Schafer)
• Numeracy (Mellony Graven)
• Intellectualisation of African Languages, Multilingualism and Education (Dion Nkomo)
• Insects in Sustainable Agricultural Ecosystems (Steve Compton)
• Interdisciplinary Science in Land and Natural Resource Use for Sustainable Livelihoods (Charlie Shackleton)
• Marine Natural Products Research (Rosemary Dorrington)
• Biotechnology Innovation & Engagement (Janice Limson)
• Global Change Social Learning Systems Development: Transformative Learning and Green Skills Learning (Heila Lotz-Sisitka)
• Geopolitics and the Arts of Africa (Ruth Simbao)
• Molecular and Cellular Biology of the Eukaryotic Stress Response (Adrienne Edkins)

Research bodies

• Centre for Biological Control

Student life

Halls of residence

• Allan Webb Hall
• Courtenay-Latimer Hall
• Desmond Tutu
• Hugh Masekela Hall
• Drostdy Hall
• Founders Hall
• Hobson Hall
• Solomon Mahlangu Hall
• Miriam Makeba Hall (formerly Kimberley Hall East)
• Kimberley Hall West
• Lilian Ngoyi Hall
• Nelson Mandela Hall
• St Mary Hall

Media

Der be three student newspapers, Activate, The Oppidan Press den Cue, wich dem dey publish daily during de National Arts Festival dem hold insyd Makhanda every year for several decades. Activate celebrate ein 65th birthday insyd 2012, while na dem publish The Oppidan Press insyd 2007 plus ein target readership be mainly Oppidans. Dem dey edit de journal Philosophical Papers insyd de department of philosophy.

Ranking

Insyd 2011, de Webometrics Ranking of World Universities rank de Rhodes 5th insyd South Africa den 700th insyd de world.

University rankings
Global – Overall
QS World	801-1000 (2021)

Times Higher Education Ranking 2023 to 2024
Year	World Rank
2023	801–1000

Notable alumni den staff

Insyd academia, na dem award Old Rhodian Max Theiler de Nobel Prize in Physiology anaa Medicine for ein research insyd virology for 1951 insyd.

Notable alumni: general

• Matthew Muir – Artist
• Beth Diane Armstrong – Sculptor
• Diane Awerbuck – Writer
• Norman Bailey – Opera singer
• Nick Binedell – Founding director of de Gordon Institute of Business Science of de University of Pretoria
• Troy Blacklaws – Novelist
• Alex Boraine – Politician; academic; co-founder of IDASA (Institute for Democracy insyd South Africa) den de International Center for Transitional Justice
• Sir Rupert Bromley, 10th Bt. – Business executive
• Guy Butler – Poet
• Efemia Chela – writer
• Tafadzwa Chitokwindo – Zimbabwe Sevens rugby player
• Nan Cross – Anti-conscription den anti-apartheid activist
• Achmat Dangor – Writer
• Embeth Davidtz – Actress
• Rob Davies – Minister of trade den industry of South Africa
• Mick Davis – Businessman, chief executive of Xstrata
• Geoffrey de Jager – Philanthropist den industrialist; founder of Rand Merchant Bank
• K. Sello Duiker – Novelist den screenwriter
• Sir Michael Edwardes – Business executive
• Robin Esrock – Travel Writer
• Allan Gray – Investor den philanthropist
• Mluleki George – ANC MP den former prisoner on Robben Island
• Igle Gledhill – Physicist
• Chris Hani – Former leader of de South African Communist Party den chief of staff of Umkhonto we Sizwe
• Errol Harris – Philosopher

• Trevor Hastie – Statistician
• Peter Hinchliff – Anglican priest den academic
• Humphry Knipe – Adult film writer/director
• Herbert Kretzmer – Fleet Street journalist den lyricist of inter alia de musical Les Misérables
• Alice Krige – Actress
• Margaret Legum – Economist den anti-apartheid activist
• Frances Margaret Leighton – Botanist
• Kai Lossgott – Interdisciplinary artist
• Mbuyiseli Madlanga – South African Constitutional Court judge
• Mandla Mandela – Chief of de Mvezo Traditional Council den grandson of Nelson Mandela
• The Hon Justice Lex Mpati – Judge Presido of de Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa den current chancellor of Rhodes University
• Patrick Mynhardt – Actor
• Marguerite Poland – Writer
• Ian Roberts – Actor
• Michael Roberts – Historian
• Kathleen Satchwell – Judge
• Sir Basil Schonland – Scientist
• Barry Smith – Musician
• Ian Smith – Former Prime Minister of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe)
• Wilbur Smith – Novelist
• William Smith – Television science den mathematics personality
• Kaneez Surka – Artist, actor and comedian
• Robert V. Taylor – Former dean of St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, Seattle
• Phumzile van Damme – MP den Shadow Communications Minister
• Max Theiler – Virologist, Nobel prize winner (1951)
• Micheen Thornycroft – Zimbabwe Olympic rower
• Kit Vaughan – Emeritus professor of biomedical engineering at UCT
• David Webster – Social anthropologist den anti-apartheid activist
• Mark Winkler – Author
• Timothy Woods – Former head of Gresham's School, England
• Dana Wynter – Actress
• Simphiwe Tshabalala – Standard Bank CEO

Notable alumni: journalists, media celebrities insyd South Africa

One of de most well-known departments for de Rhodes campus top be de university ein school of Journalism and Media Studies, thru wich chaw of South Africa ein most notable media celebrities pass. Der sanso be especially high number of radio celebrities wey graduate for Rhodes – chaw of dem spend time plus de university ein campus radio station Rhodes Music Radio.

• Matthew Buckland – Media-owner den entrepreneur
• Steve Linde (born 1960) – newspaperman
• Anand Naidoo – Anchor den correspondent for Al Jazeera English base insyd Washington DC; previously plus CNN
• Jeremy Mansfield – Radio host, television presenter, comedian
• Karyn Maughan – Legal journalist
• Eusebius McKaiser – Social activist, author, radio show host
• Haru Mutasa – Correspondent for Al Jazeera International
• Zaa Nkweta – Former Carte Blanche presenter
• Verashni Pillay – Mail & Guardian editor-in-chief
• Toby Shapshak – Journalist den African technology thought leader
• Barry Streek – Political journalist den anti-apartheid activist
• Rob Vember – 5FM DJ

Notable staff

• Prof Thomas Alty FRSE – physicist; Principal den Vice Chancellor of de university
• Margaret Ballinger – Political activist; na she teach insyd de history department
• André Brink – Writer
• Andrew Buckland – Performer den playwright
• Julian Cobbing – Professor of African history; na he wrep influential den controversial theory for de nature of de Mfecane top
• Ward Jones – Professor of philosophy
• Don Maclennan – Professor of English den notable poet
• Catriona Ida Macleod, head of de psychology department
• Obie Oberholzer – Photographer
• D. C. S. Oosthuizen – Philosopher, Christian, critic of apartheid
• Selmar Schonland – Botanist
• J.L.B. Smith – Ichthyologist; first make he identify taxidermied fish as coelacanth, fish dem previously think ebe extinct
• H.W. van der Merwe – Founder of de Centre for Intergroup Studies, University of Cape Town
• Etienne van Heerden – Writer
• Arthur Matthews (mathematician), founding professor for de university
• Graham Glover - Author, Associate professor, editor of de South African Law Journal

Read further

• Currey, Ronald Fairbridge (1970). Rhodes University 1904-1970: a chronicle. Makhanda.

External links

Library resources about Rhodes University

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• Online books
• Resources in your library
• Resources in other libraries

By Rhodes University

• Online books
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Wikimedia Commons get media wey dey relate to Rhodes University.

• Official website