UP Law hosts its debut Embassy Engagement Event

There is a mutually beneficial link between embassies or foreign missions and higher education institutions that cannot be overlooked. This is part of a country's overall bilateral relations, including its overseas engagements and diplomatic connections. Such relationships are critical for encouraging cross-border education initiatives such as the formation of joint degree programs, research centers, outreach offices, research fellowships, staff, and student exchange programs, as well as research collaborations.

UP Law is no stranger to worldwide collaborations, whether through the UP Internationalisation office, the faculty, or embassy-facilitated activities. For this reason, on March 12th, the dean, Prof Elsabe Schoeman, and her executive team hosted various embassies, consulates, and foreign mission representatives for a unique engagement to strengthen relations with existing collaborators as well as establish new relations with partners having similar interests in advancing legal education and contributing to the broader global legal agenda of ensuring justice for all.

Prof Schoeman commended the embassies' interest in exploring cooperation with the University of Pretoria, Law, stating that it is a vote of confidence in their ability to make a substantial influence both globally and locally. She mentioned some of the faculty's current programs, including those at Leiden University and Tilburg University in the Netherlands, as well as Vrije University in Amsterdam. These relationships have helped UP Law keep up with global trends in legal education and research. Also, ensuring that students have access to worldwide opportunities to broaden their knowledge and join a global network of law students.

The Deputy Dean, Prof Maimela, provided an overview of the faculty's research outputs, student throughput, graduate employability, and staff development. He also emphasized the faculty's objectives to remain the preeminent legal school in Africa and South Africa. Prof Maimela also underlined the faculty's desire to build global collaboration to make a meaningful effect on the legal fraternity and society.

Prof Joel Modiri highlighted one of the faculty's bespoke projects, the former Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke Research Common, which will be located on the second floor of the OR Tambo Law Library on our Hatfield campus. The faculty is privileged to have been entrusted with the archive and mementos of Emeritus DCJ and Honorary Professor Dikgang Moseneke. This renowned collection, which includes Justice Moseneke's Robben Island security file, annotated law reports, rare photographs, artworks, and different awards, will be stored at the DCJ Moseneke Research Commons and utilized to support postgraduate legal studies.

Prof. Anton van der Linde discussed foreign staff and student exchange options at the faculty and outlined the process of establishing connections across the university system through the Internationalisation office. He also mentioned some of the significant accomplishments that resulted from such cooperation, as well as their relevance in promoting the faculty, its academic prowess, and contributing to an enriching student experience.

Dr. Michelle Maziwisa and Prof. Frans Viljoen of the Centre of Human Rights were also present to discuss their programmes, which include customised training, Masters and Doctoral studies, bespoke workshops, Moot competitions, and advocacy work with international collaborators. 

Collectively, UP Law's six departments and 14 research centers demonstrate the huge shifts occurring in the higher education and how those shifts are forcing institutions to extend into cross-border cooperation for dynamic student and staff experiences. While helping to the development of solutions to important and current global issues.