The University of Venda’s Department of Public Law in the School of Law, under the Faculty of Management, Commerce and Law, continues to strengthen its international academic footprint through a growing partnership between its School of Law and the Faculty of Law at Mykolas Romeris University (MRU) in Lithuania. highlighting the institution’s growing commitment to global collaboration and academic excellence.
Left to right: LLM Student, Prof Ademola Jegede, Prof Jolita Miliuvine, Dr Crystal Mokoena and other
LLM students
Recent staff mobility exchanges and academic engagements between the two institutions have demonstrated the value of international collaboration in advancing teaching, research, and institutional development. The activities form part of the implementation of a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2023, which promotes cooperation in teaching and learning, research, curriculum development, and staff and student mobility.
Engagement with the visiting Professor, Prof Jolita Miliuvine
In a significant step towards internationalisation, the School of Law recently welcomed Professor Jolita Miliuvienė from MRU’s Institute of Public Law. A distinguished legal scholar and Parliamentary Ombudsperson in Lithuania, Prof Miliuvienė shared her expertise with Master of Laws students specialising in Human Rights as well as LLB students. Her lectures provided valuable comparative legal perspectives, exposing students to global approaches to public law and human rights.
The collaboration was further strengthened when Dr Crystal Mokoena from UNIVEN’s Department of Public Law participated in a staff mobility programme at MRU in Vilnius. During her visit, she delivered lectures to undergraduate and postgraduate students on South Africa’s constitutional framework, landmark Constitutional Court judgments, and the Inter-African Human Rights System. The presentations showcased UNIVEN’s academic strengths whilst broadening European students’ understanding of African legal systems and jurisprudence.
Beyond the classroom, the exchanges created opportunities for meaningful institutional engagement. Discussions between academics from UNIVEN’s Department of Public Law and MRU’s Institute of Public Law, together with meetings involving university leadership, explored new avenues for collaboration. Key areas identified for future growth include joint research projects, postgraduate supervision, and the development of innovative academic programmes.
The partnership stands as a testament to UNIVEN’s commitment to internationalisation and strategic global partnerships. By fostering academic exchange across continents, the University is not only enhancing the quality of teaching and research but also creating transformative opportunities for students and staff, while elevating its position as a globally connected institution.
Prof Jolita Miliuvine receiving a token of appreciation from UNIVEN. L-R: Dr Crystel Mokoena (interim
HOD-Public Law), Prof Lonias Ndlovu (Director: School of Law), Prof Jolita Miliuvine, Prof Moyo (Deputy Dean:Research and Postgraduate Studies – Faculty of Management, Commerce and Law) and Prof Jegede (Director: Ismail Mahommed Centre for Human and Peoples’ Rights)
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