Rhodes University saw 2 288 students graduate at five graduation ceremonies last weekend at the 1820 Settlers' National Monument.
Rhodes University saw 2 288 students graduate at five graduation ceremonies last weekend at the 1820 Settlers' National Monument.
Given that Rhodes has only some 7 200 students, Vice-Chancellor Dr Saleem Badat says, this is by far the best graduation rate among South African universities.
A total of 1 340 students received undergraduate degrees, and 948, or 41% postgraduate degrees. According to a recent press release from the university, Rhodes is steadily achieving its stated strategic objective of growing to 30% the postgraduate proportion of students.
"This is an ambitious objective, but is well within reach," the statement said. In 2010, 26% (1 840) of students were postgraduates and the number had increased to 2 204 (29%) in 2012. "In 2011 Rhodes achieved a new university record of 55 PhDs, an impressive achievement for the smallest university in South Africa. This year Rhodes will graduate 63 PhD’s setting a new record," the statement said.
“We rejoice that we enjoy among the best pass and graduation rates in South Africa; that we have among the most highly qualified academic staff and the best research output per academic staff member, and that we pursue socially committed and mutually respectful and beneficial engagements with various communities,” said Badat.
According to the statement, Rhodes has reaffirmed its position as a leading postgraduate and research-intensive university with a slight increase from 903 postgraduates in 2012 to 949 in 2013.
The number of undergraduates’ students has also increased to 1 340 in 2013 from 1307 in 2012. “1 378 graduates or 60% are women.
495 or 22% are international students from 30 countries in the rest of Africa and around the world.
We also celebrate a new University record of 63 PhDs – a fabulous achievement for the smallest university in the country,” Badat said.
Rhodes has increased the total number of graduates from 2 214 in 2012 to 2 288 this year. The university has also experienced a slight increase in postgraduate students graduating from the Eastern Cape from 293 in 2012 to 297 in 2013, and a slight decrease in undergraduate degrees from 458 in 2012 to 373 in 2013.
"Rhodes is the smallest university in South Africa and it takes pride in being one of the universities that enjoy the distinction of having the best undergraduate pass rates and graduation rates in the country and outstanding postgraduate success rates over the years," the statement said.
“We take great pride in our academic reputation and are well-known for scholarship and producing high quality graduates,” said Badat.
“Among South African universities, Rhodes has one of the most favourable academic staff to student ratios, which means that students are guaranteed easy access to academic and close supervision.”
According to the Vice-Chancellor, Rhodes University also has among the best research output per academic staff member of any university in South Africa.
The university's public relations department describes Rhodes as "a small but outstanding 108-year special and distinctive university.
Judged in terms of key higher education performance indicators, Rhodes is one of South Africa and Africa's outstanding universities with a proud reputation as a 'scholarly university'.
"Advancing the frontiers of knowledge to change society for the better, Rhodes provides quality education to students from diverse social, economic and national backgrounds."
"Being a cosmopolitan institution Rhodes has a representation of students from some 56 countries," information from the department reads.
"The university has one of the best undergraduate pass rates, outstanding graduation rates, and ranks amongst the highest per capita research outputs and percentage of staff with doctorates of all South African universities. This means many of its academics are national and international leaders in their fields."
"About 1 in 4 Rhodes students is a postgraduate and every year Rhodes students win prestigious international scholarships to overseas universities."
"Rhodes has the highest percentage of all South African universities with regard to PhD students as a percentage of Masters students. This suggests two trends: firstly, that Rhodes attracts a significant number of PhD students from outside the University, and, secondly, that a significant number of Rhodes' Masters students continue to do PhDs," the statement said.
