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From the Communication Advance Department
A year-long celebratory program packed with diverse activities, including alumni reunions, high-level social discussions, unveiling ceremonies, exhibitions, and cultural activities, the program is an inventive program that further strengthens Makanda's unique selling point of quality education. will kick off later this month with a global education summit.
The multi-stakeholder summit, held under the auspices of the Vice-Chancellor Education Initiative led by Professor Sizwe Mabizela, is the first of its kind in the country. Never before has an event been convened by a Deputy Prime Minister with such a city-centric vision as central to the summit's agenda.
The Rhodes University 120th Anniversary Project 2024, or RU120 as it came to be known, was launched by Professor Mabizela in early 2023.
This project deepens the unity of purpose among the University's diverse and generational alumni and builds on the brilliant continuing academic achievements from Sir George Coley to the current era of Distinguished Professor Tebello Nyocon and Professor Justin Jonas. designed to unite and advance our vision of reimagining Rose. Universities reshape their institutional purpose in a rapidly changing global economy.
For projects with this purpose, co-creation is essential to foster buy-in and gather input. To achieve this, a five-step project plan was developed and implemented, starting with consultation involving students, academic leaders, staff and the wider university community. External engagement included virtual and physical consultations with multi-generational alumni and funder groups from South Africa and around the world.
Behind RU120 is a driven, diverse, dynamic and autonomous team formed to ensure that project goals are achieved and goals are executed effectively and organically.
“The anniversary year of 2024 will unite all stakeholders of the university in the singular determination to pursue growth and sustainability, activating mutual connections for deeper cooperation and strengthening our It provides an opportunity to harness our collective energy to reimagine a new future for the university and its purpose,” he said. Professor Mabizela. “It also brings a lot of excitement, including the possibility of Abdullah Ibrahim headlining the cultural program.”
RU120's calendar of events includes academic and research shows such as the launch of the Internet in South Africa in 1991, innovative projects involving RU120's project sponsor Professor Peter Clayton, and community engagement achievements that led to championship wins for the university. Case included. Winner of the global McJanet Citizenship Award, launched Africa's first community engagement journal, and provides teaching and learning statistics that distinguish Rhodes College as a cauldron of academic excellence.
“Despite the extensive celebratory elements of RU120, it would be remiss not to highlight and address some of the substantive challenges in the country's educational landscape as an integral part of RU120.” says Professor Mabizela.
Key challenges include fiscal sustainability, the socio-economic state of South Africa today, particularly the Eastern Cape and Makhanda provinces, and the funding of higher education.
These include historic student debt, which currently stands at over R17 billion, inequality, corruption and poor educational outcomes.
Highlights of the RU120 program include:
Vice-Chancellors from various universities in the Eastern Cape will interact to address pressing social, economic, political and ethical concerns. High-level consideration and discussion of current events, starting with the Doha debate by Rhodes University students. His Summit on Journalism explores the role of journalism in today's world as a foundation for democracy and human progress. High-level political, community and business leaders will contribute to meaningful discussions about South Africa's future.
In the second quarter of this year, Paul Maylam, professor emeritus of history, celebrated author, and the university's longest-serving orator, will explore the intellectual history of Rhodes College.
Then, with an even greater focus on the present and the future, the R90-million Nanotechnology Innovation Institute building will be grandly opened to house the ground-breaking research being carried out by Professor Nyocon and his dedicated students.
RU120's spirit of unity will probably shine brightest at the heart of the various social and entertainment events planned throughout the year. From sports festivals to parades and art exhibitions, there's no shortage of cultural options for celebrations. Orchestral ensembles consisting of Nelson Mandela University Orchestra, Rhodes University Orchestra and Makanda Community Orchestra will create this year's memorable aural backdrop.
A legendary reunion is planned for the end of the year, bringing together our oldest alumni, who affectionately refer to themselves as “Knocking on Heaven's Door.” These people, who vividly remember the protests of the early 1970s advocating the admission of black students to Rhodes College, aptly named their bittersweet rally “The Final Countdown.”
Professor Mabizela says RU120 is not just a celebration, but a strategic and comprehensive initiative aimed at strategically addressing contemporary challenges such as student debt and education reform.
“This multifaceted approach is premised on diversity and collaboration among stakeholders, respecting the past, engaging with the present, and envisioning a future that continues to have a positive impact on communities and the broader educational environment. “It represents an important step in the process,” he says.
For more information related to RU120, please visit the official RU120 website, which is updated regularly.
