Rhodes addressing issues of the past, says VC

Rhodes University is proud of the contribution it is making in the academic space, vice-chancellor Dr Sizwe Mabizela said.

Referencing Prof Paul Maylam’s March 1 lecture on the intellectual history of the university, delivered as part of its 120th anniversary celebrations, he said Rhodes was on a mission to fix certain issues.

“You heard [during the lecture] about some of the things in the past of this institution — how the university was complacent, particularly in the times of apartheid and oppression,” he said.

“A few years ago, we recognised that and we have since reshaped this institution and repositioned it such that it can serve the community of

Makhanda, the Eastern Cape, SA and the continent.

“We have done a lot to embed it in the life of this country and the life of this city, and we are making an important contribution to benefit, first and foremost, the people of Makhanda, and the country as a whole.”

Mabizela said the university was producing graduates who were making a contribution for the betterment of society.

“We are doing research which advances knowledge that [helps] to deal with the socioeconomic, political and other challenges of this country.”

He said Rhodes had a number of flagship programmes, such as the institute for nanotechnology innovation, biocontrol and environmental education, as well as the institute for water research and the journalism programme.

The legacy that he wanted to leave was that of an institution looked upon by the people of Makhanda as accessible to them. This was being encouraged through the academic support it offered to local schools in recent years.

“This university has to be fully embedded in the community and be a place of growth development for many young people who could not otherwise have come to Rhodes University,” Mabizela said.

“We are looking at education from early childhood, right across to tertiary education.

“Numeracy and literacy are very important at an early age.

“We cannot sit here and hope children from our local schools will be able to come here when we know the quality of teaching and learning [in schools] can be problematic.”

He said the university had committed itself to working with schools.

“Our students are working with schools as mentors to help them navigate the challenges of [education].”

Mabizela said in 2012 the university barely had 12 students from the surrounding community coming to Rhodes to study.

“We now have more than 160 students who come from these schools.”

He said the university also had a programme for matrics who did not meet admission requirements.

“Many of the [local children] have graduated,” Mabizela said.

‘We cannot sit here and hope children from our local schools will be able to come here when we know the quality of teaching and learning [in schools] can be problematic’