Rhodes University’s Vice-chancellor, Dr Saleem Badat delivered his annual welcome address on Monday to 1 400 first year students who were selected from over 5 900 applicants.
He described this important era in their lives as being like embarking upon an important
Rhodes University’s Vice-chancellor, Dr Saleem Badat delivered his annual welcome address on Monday to 1 400 first year students who were selected from over 5 900 applicants.
He described this important era in their lives as being like embarking upon an important
journey. “This journey is at the same time also a voyage of self-discovery. Your time at Rhodes is an opportunity to discover who you are. It is often said that ‘you are who you are’.
That’s not true. You are who you learn to become,” said Badat. Expressing his admiration for the new
students, Badat told students that everyone at Rhodes are there to support them to learn and nurture them towards their highest potential, adding that joining Rhodes is the beginning of an exciting new phase in their intellectual development.
Badat explained that himself, students, academics and support staff at Rhodes University exist to serve three purposes. The first is to produce knowledge to advance the understanding of the natural and social worlds and enrich scientific and cultural heritage.
The second is to disseminate knowledge and cultivate minds and lastly, to undertake community
engagement. Badat quoted Martha Nussbaum saying that higher education is also intimately connected to the idea of democratic and critical citizenship, the assertion and pursuit of social and human rights and the cultivation of humanity.
“We seek our graduates to be not just capable professionals, but also thoughtful, sensitive and critical intellectuals and citizens people who think about ethical issues, and question of justice, equity, human rights, and the common good,” Badat said.
The vice-chancellor said that many students might be panicking and asking themselves what they have let themselves in for.
“Have no fear, there will be ample time to have a good time, to chill and to rest,” before adding that it is vital that one strikes a balance between academic studies and the many temptations and distractions of social life.
“In coming to Rhodes University the journey that you are embarking on, then, is a voyage centred on the pursuit, making and sharing of knowledge. This is why we refer to Rhodes as indawo yolwazi – a place of knowledge.”
