Starting the postgraduate journey with a map…
by Thandokazi Silosini (silosinit@gmail.com)
On Thursday 28 February, the Centre for Postgraduate Studies (CPGS) officially kicked of the year’s programme with the welcome event for all postgraduate students. Barrat 2 Lecture Theater was full and the energy was palpable as individuals opened the poster provided to all attendees mapping out what they can expect as support in the coming year. The DVC: Research and Development, Dr. Peter Clayton, noted that the CPGS is a useful space for postgrad students and encouraged students to capitalize on all the opportunities that it offers. The university is investing more in postgraduate studies and a third of the Rhodes Student body is postgraduate students. Rhodes University is one of five research intensive universities in the country which brings responsibilities for contribution to knowledge production. With 35% of all research and development in the country being produced by postgraduate students, the role of postgraduate education is vital to the country’s development.
The director of the CPGS, Prof Sioux McKenna, encouraged postgrads to take up every opportunity offered by CPGS. One of the aims of CPGS is to facilitate the building of interdisciplinary networks and collaboration among students across fields. Sioux noted that one needs a good support structure and building good networks of people is part of that structure. Furthermore, it is a step in the direction of building knowledge that can transcend disciplinary boundaries. All the programs that CPGS will be offering this year are in some way geared toward this goal: from the writing circles where students come together, share each other’s work and give each other feedback, to the different topics regarding research that will be covered in the Thursday seminar series and even the short courses and writing retreats that will take place during the course of the year. All of these are designed to help students navigate their postgraduate journeys.
Postgrads can sign up for events at the CPGS website
Or can ask to join the mailing list at cpgs@ru.ac.za to be kept informed of upcoming events.