Seminar room in UP’s Political Sciences Department named after the late Prof Maxi Schoeman

The University of Pretoria’s (UP) Department of Political Sciences and International Relations has launched the refurbished departmental seminar room, named in honour of the late Professor Maxi Schoeman, a scholar of international relations, diplomacy and African foreign policy who passed away on 14 September 2025.

During her tenure at UP from 2000 to 2019, Prof Schoeman served as Head of the Department of Political Sciences and then as Deputy Dean in charge of Postgraduate Studies in the Faculty of Humanities. She continued to contribute to the academic community as an Emeritus Professor from 2019 until her passing.

UP Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof Francis Peterson described Prof Schoeman’s work as being characterised by “analytical depth, intellectual courage and a commitment to rigorous scholarship rooted in the realities of Africa and the Global South”.

“She was not only a prolific academic, but also a generous mentor, a thoughtful colleague and a respected public intellectual whose voice carried well beyond the academy,” he said. “Her scholarship consistently bridged theory and practice.”

She engaged global debates while remaining attentive to Africa’s position in the international system, challenging simplistic narratives and insisting on complexity, agency and nuance,” he added. 

“In doing so, she exemplified the very best traditions of the Department of Political Sciences and of the University.”

According to Prof Christopher Isike, the department had planned to honour Prof Schoeman by naming the seminar room after her once the proposal had been approved. This process began about a year before she passed away.

“We believe this initiative aligns with our vision of becoming what could be called the Pretoria School of Politics,” Prof Isike said. “We are currently ranked number one in Political Sciences in South Africa, and our goal is to become number one in Africa; we believe that the debates, discussions and seminars that will take place in this room, as part of honouring Prof Schoeman’s legacy, will also uphold and respect the contributions she left behind.”

The refurbished seminar room is a fitting tribute to that legacy. 

“Seminar rooms are where ideas are tested, arguments sharpened and intellectual communities formed,” Prof Peterson said. “They are spaces of debate, disagreement and discovery, precisely the kind of environment in which Prof Schoeman thrived, and which she cultivated for generations of students.

“This refurbishment reflects the University of Pretoria’s broader commitment to investing in academic infrastructure that supports excellence in teaching, research and postgraduate training. Spaces matter, as they signal what we value. Today, we signal that we value scholarship, mentorship and the legacies of those who have helped build this institution. Every seminar held here, every postgraduate defence, every critical discussion will stand as a quiet reminder of the standards Prof Schoeman set: intellectual seriousness, ethical scholarship and a deep respect for the transformative power of knowledge.”