On 24 October 2023, the Faculty of Law hosted the LLB curriculum transformation expert lecture. Purpose of the LLB curriculum transformation drive is to ensure that the voices of all stakeholders are heard in order to promote inclusivity, transparency and openness. Furthermore, the drive aims to equip LLB students with the necessary skills and knowledge to be able to make a difference in the legal field.

The Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Law, Professor Charles Maimela, extended a warm welcome to the attendees and alluded to the visits that were conducted at the five academic departments at the University of Pretoria’s Law Faculty (UP Law) as well as the stakeholder and student engagements that were previously held. The purpose of the expert lecture is to hear what the experts are doing in their various faculties in respect of curriculum transformation so that they can share tips with UP Law.

During his presentation, Professor Anton Kok explained the importance of curriculum transformation at UP. He indicated that over the past decade, only minor changes have been made to the current LLB programme, established in 2013. The need for curriculum transformation is evident, as the curriculum must evolve to meet the changing demands of the legal profession and ensure that students are adequately prepared for life beyond the university. According to Professor Kok, the #FeesMustFall movement which occurred during 2015-2016 turned the tide and brought curriculum reform to the national and institutional agendas which resulted in the development of the Curriculum Transformation Framework and Development (CTFD) and the creation of work streams. In addition, he acknowledged the challenges of transformation, mentioning how members of the curriculum transformation work streams had engaged in "acrimonious debate" over the development of the four drivers of curriculum transformation document. According to Professor Kok, the university mandates that all faculties align their curricula with the CTFD.

The first expert lecture was presented by Professor Richard Stevens, Vice Dean of Stellenbosch University's Faculty of Law. In his presentation, Professor Stevens focused on the curriculum transformation process at Stellenbosch University. He emphasized the need for curriculum changes in the assessment of law so that students are adequately prepared for practice and life after university. According to him, the CHE's 2016 LLB review had necessitated programme renewal, a process that was further accelerated by COVID-19 to a lesser extent. Professor Stevens expressed concern about the low bar exam pass rates and disparities in LLB assessment among universities. In 2015, Stellenbosch University began its curriculum renewal process, but complete implementation only began in 2022. One of the lessons shared by Professor Stevens in the curriculum transformation process is the importance of having good evidence and good data to inform future renewal projects as well as the importance of scaffolding when implementing curriculum transformation. In order to improve the process, Professor Stevens encourages continuous reflection and looking both backwards and forward throughout the curriculum transformation process as well as the inclusion of staff and students in the process. In addition, he stressed the importance of identifying skills and dispositions at all levels during the transformation process.  Administrative support and engagement with other faculties offering law courses were both emphasized as important to the process. In conclusion, Prof Stevens emphasized the importance of openness to curriculum transformation because, "Change is not substitution, it's not revolutionary, it's evolutionary."

The second expert lecture was delivered by Dr Moolman, senior lecturer at the Faculty of Law at the University of the Free State (UFS). Dr Moolman shared an account of curriculum transformation efforts at the University of the Free State. He pointed out that legal education is currently in a dire state due to graduates’ lack of practical legal skills, limited reading and writing abilities, and inadequate problem- solving, critical thinking and research skills. A national review of the LLB curriculum had prompted discussions on curriculum transformation. The UFS curriculum was completely redesigned, requiring a new strategy for curriculum change. To navigate the complexity of curriculum transformation, UFS adopted a mixed method research design consisting of two phases. A two-phase mixed method research design was adopted by UFS to tackle the complexity of curriculum transformation. In the first phase, a draft curriculum change management process (CCMM) was developed, and in the second phase, the draft was evaluated. The CCMM encompassed strategic planning, change management, and curriculum planning which involved the adoption of a nested approach comprising consultation, knowledgeable leadership, effective communication, and well-documented decisions as the keys to success. Dr Moolman concluded his presentation by indicating that the process of curriculum transformation at UFS is ongoing to ensure that the LLB programme provides students with a well-rounded, practical legal education.

As the University of Pretoria embarks on its own curriculum transformation journey, it is well-positioned to integrate these shared insights into its future curriculum to be implemented in 2025 and beyond.

In closing, the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Professor Elsabe Schoeman, emphasized the importance of curriculum transformation and thanked the speakers for their insightful and detailed presentations.