# Rhodes University

> public research university in Makhanda, South Africa

**Wikidata**: [Q377757](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q377757)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodes_University)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/rhodes-university

## Summary
Rhodes University is a public research university located in Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown) in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Founded in 1904, it is named after the British imperialist Cecil John Rhodes. The institution is recognized for its academic affiliations with major African and international university associations and its focus on social accountability and public resource management.

## Key Facts
- **Location:** Makhanda, Eastern Cape, South Africa (PO Box 94, 6140).
- **Founded:** 1904.
- **Type:** Public research university.
- **Student Population:** Approximately 8,200 students (as of 2018).
- **Namesake:** Cecil John Rhodes.
- **Academic Affiliations:** Member of the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA), Association of African Universities (AAU), and International Association of Universities (IAU).
- **Library:** Rhodes University Library is a constituent part of the university.
- **Online Presence:** Website is `ru.ac.za`; active on Twitter (`@Rhodes_Uni`) and Facebook (`rhodesuniversity`).

## FAQs
### Q: Where is Rhodes University located?
A: Rhodes University is located in Makhanda (formerly known as Grahamstown) in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.

### Q: When was Rhodes University founded?
A: The university was established in 1904.

### Q: Who is Rhodes University named after?
A: The institution is named after Cecil John Rhodes, the British colonial businessman and politician.

### Q: What academic networks is Rhodes University part of?
A: It is a member of the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA), the Association of African Universities (AAU), and the International Association of Universities, among others.

## Why It Matters
Rhodes University serves as a significant center for higher education and research within the South African landscape and the broader African continent. Its membership in the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) and the Association of African Universities highlights its role in pan-African academic collaboration and development.

The university matters specifically for its active engagement in social justice and accountability. Through funding from organizations like the Open Society Foundations, Rhodes University conducts interventions and research aimed at implementing social accountability monitoring in public resource management. It hosts international conferences on critical topics such as reproductive justice, positioning itself as a hub for discourse on human rights and governance in the region.

## Notable For
- Being one of the oldest universities in South Africa, founded in 1904.
- Its membership in the **African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA)**, distinguishing it as a premier research institution on the continent.
- Receiving substantial funding from the **Open Society Foundations** specifically for social accountability monitoring and reproductive justice initiatives.
- Hosting the **Rhodes University Library**, a key resource for the region.
- Notable alumni and affiliates include **James Martin** (British IT consultant and author) and **Chris Brink** (mathematician and academic administrator).

## Body

### Location and Contact
Rhodes University is situated in Makhanda, South Africa. Its headquarters are located in the Eastern Cape province, with the postal address PO Box 94, 6140. The geographic coordinates are approximately 33.31°S latitude and 26.52°E longitude.

### History and Identity
The university was established in **1904** and is classified as a public research university. It is named after **Cecil John Rhodes**. The institution is also known by the alias "Rhodes University College" historically, and is sometimes referred to by its Afrikaans name or local variations.

### Academic Structure and Affiliations
The university is an instance of a "public research university" and is related to the broader class of academic institutions for further education. It maintains significant academic partnerships:
- **African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA):** Confirmed member as of 2025.
- **Association of African Universities (AAU):** Member.
- **International Association of Universities:** Member.
- **South African National Library and Information Consortium (SANLiC):** Member.
- **ORCID, Inc.:** Member.

The university's DOI prefix is **10.21504**.

### Funding and Research Initiatives
Rhodes University has received notable funding from the **Open Society Foundations** for various projects:
- **2021:** $150,000 for policy advocacy and social accountability monitoring in public resource management.
- **2019:** $150,000 to promote social accountability practices for improved access to basic services.
- **2018:** Grants totaling nearly $36,000 for exchange, capacity building, and monitoring of social accountability projects.
- **2017:** $24,912 for the "Abortion & Reproductive Justice: The Unfinished Revolution III" international conference.

### Student Body and Social Media
As of 2018, the university had a student count of **8,200**.
Its social media presence includes a verified Twitter account (@Rhodes_Uni), which had approximately **14,064 followers** as of February 2023. Its Facebook handle is `rhodesuniversity`.

### Identifiers
The university is indexed in numerous global databases:
- **ISNI:** 0000000123641300
- **ROR ID:** 016sewp10
- **GRID ID:** grid.91354.3a
- **RINGGOLD ID:** 59100
- **EU VAT Number:** ZA4880105657
- **Library of Congress Authority ID:** n80050412

## References

1. [Source](http://ru.ac.za)
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20230905131850/https://sanlic.org.za/about/)
4. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20231020113811/https://orcid.org/members)
5. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20230905151954/https://db.aflia.net/)
6. [Source](https://www.aau.org/subs/membership/)
7. [Source](https://arua.org/member-universities/)
8. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
9. [Source](http://api.crossref.org/members/8945)
10. [Source](http://www.ru.ac.za/)
11. [Source](https://www.ru.ac.za/introducingrhodes/)
12. GRID Release 2015-12-14
13. GRID Release 2016-12-06
14. Quora
15. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph
16. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
17. [Open Society Foundations - Awarded Grants, Scholarships, and Fellowships](https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/past?grant_id=OR2021-81515)
18. [Open Society Foundations - Awarded Grants, Scholarships, and Fellowships](https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/past?grant_id=OR2019-63921)
19. [Open Society Foundations - Awarded Grants, Scholarships, and Fellowships](https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/past?grant_id=OR2018-44964)
20. [Open Society Foundations - Awarded Grants, Scholarships, and Fellowships](https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/past?grant_id=OR2018-43327)
21. [Open Society Foundations - Awarded Grants, Scholarships, and Fellowships](https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/past?grant_id=OR2017-38523)
22. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)