The IIE’s Varsity College Waterfall Faculty of Law launches formal adoption of transformative constitutionalism
To effectively integrate the initiative into its curriculum and outreach efforts, the faculty has outlined several key initiatives, including curriculum development, community engagement, and research initiatives.
The formal adoption of transformative constitutionalism as a guiding framework for legal education and practice by The IIE’s faculty of law was recently launched during an event hosted by The IIE’s Varsity College Waterfall.
This initiative reflects The IIE’s ongoing commitment to fostering a legal environment which acknowledges and actively addresses the prevailing socio-legal challenges. Justice Zukisa Tshiqi, a distinguished Constitutional Court Justice, was the keynote speaker at the launch.
Transformative constitutionalism, within the context of the faculty of law, encapsulates a commitment to reimagining the role of law in effecting societal change. It recognises the transformative potential of a constitution as a catalyst for promoting social justice, equality, and broader participatory governance. This approach tasks legal education with not merely imparting technical skills, but also with nurturing critical thinking aimed at dismantling systemic inequalities.
Susan de Kock, head of the law faculty at the Waterfall campus, said, “The adoption of our own definition of transformative constitutionalism, as The IIE’s faculty of law, shows a commitment to view law not as stagnant, but as an instrument of change in society.
“It is a common theme in modules across the law qualifications that law can be used to improve society. To this extent, our law students are equipped, knowing they have the tools to impact change in society as they are guardians of the constitution.”
To ensure the effective integration of this approach within its curriculum and community engagement, the faculty has established specific progress markers and accountability processes.
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These indicators will serve as benchmarks that will allow for evaluation of initiatives, including, but not limited to:
• Curriculum Development: Incorporation of transformative constitutional principles into existing course offerings and the development of new modules focused on social justice and human rights.
• Community Engagement: Implementing outreach programs that engage with marginalised communities, ensuring that legal education intersects with the lived realities of all South Africans.
• Research Initiatives: Encouraging faculty and students to undertake research that contributes to understanding and addressing issues of inequality, discrimination, and governance.
• Student Empowerment: Creating platforms for students to engage in dialogues, workshops, and debates that focus on constitutional issues and transformative practices.
• Continuous Assessment: Establishing a robust accountability framework that regularly assesses progress toward these goals, involving feedback from students, faculty, and community partners.
The implementation of the faculty’s definition of this initiative will be reported on at Faculty Board: Law every year to ensure accountability and transparency in the progress markers.
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