The C.S. Mott Foundation has approved a further grant to the value of US$200 000 to the Department of Applied Legal Studies. 

The funding enables the Department to deliver long overdue formal education and training to community-based paralegals (CBPs) across the country. It provides for staff capacity building, infrastructural support for the CBPs on the programme and materials development.

“We are delighted that the funder has approved the funding at a time of extreme economic hardship for students and educational institutions,” says Dr Noleen Leach, Acting Head of the Department of Applied Legal Studies.  

Leach adds that the Department has committed itself to the advanced education and training of CBPs, contributing to the body of knowledge on paralegalism through research and publication as well as codifying critical aspects of paralegalism in the academy and the public domain. 

“Access to accredited education and training is one of the key components of the capacity building of CBPs across the country alongside regulatory reforms (driven by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development) and funding,” she confirms. 

She adds that the Foundation’s Lorenzo Wakefield, in collaboration with Open Society Foundation of South Africa’s (OSF-SA) Khanyisile Ntsenge, committed themselves to support access to the newly-curriculated Bachelor of Paralegal Studies at CPUT, but access to the programme seemed not possible for many CBPs and the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) route had to be explored.

 The Foundation therefore provided an initial US$50 000 for a national research project which examined the levels of education and training of CBP practitioners across the country and determined the RPL processes and instruments that would be appropriate for the recognition and validation of prior learning in the CBP sector. 

The research was conducted by the Department in collaboration with the Human Sciences Research Council and RPL experts, and its report can be found on the link http://hdl.handle.net/11189/7231.” 

The research results informed the Department about the appropriate RPL pathways into the BParalegal programme for the CBPs.  The Foundation and OSF-SA then provided the necessary funding for the first cohort of CBPs who qualify to be admitted to the programme’s block release part-time programme planned for the academic year 2021. 

Written by Kwanele Butana
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The Department of Applied Legal Studies recently hosted a delegation from Hochschule München University of Applied Sciences (MUAS) for a three-day event, which included cultural exchange sessions, engagements during breakaway groups and plenary sessions at which the groups presented their work.

This emanates from last year, following discussions on collaboration between Prof Henrike Weiden from Department of Applied Legal Studies at MUAS and Prof Noleen Leach from the Department of Applied Legal Studies at CPUT. These discussions were on collaboration between the MUAS students on the Business Administration Masters and the exit level students on the Bachelor of Paralegal Studies programme at CPUT.

These initial discussions evolved into a collaborative project on the legal issues occurring in the context of data-driven businesses and to familiarise students with selected legal issues related to trans-border business activities with the focus on the protection of personal information.

The collaboration between MUAS and CPUT students occurred online and culminated into a three-day face-to-face interaction at Bellville campus. This occurred under the guidance of the subject lecturers and specialists, Nolan Martin, Raygaanah Barday, Michelle Mopp, Faizel Jacobs, Kay-Lynn Bailey, Servious Hungwe, Weiden and Leach.

The students had the opportunity to collaborate in person and compare notes in breakaway groups with their German counterparts on legal issues that occur in data-driven business models. Open coaching sessions were also conducted to prepare students for the joint presentations that were conducted in a plenary session on the last day. “At the end of the project, students were also acquainted with problem-oriented strategies in interdisciplinary and multinational teams,” said Hungwe.

He said the feedback received from both staff and students indicates that the visit was a success. “South African and German student teams gained experience in collaborating on the transfer of business activities from a European Union member state to South Africa. They researched the various legal questions related to data-driven business relevant to their individual team-projects and developed legally feasible solutions to the transfer of identified business models.”

Weiden echoed Hungwe’s words, saying she was “extraordinarily grateful” that Leach, Faculty and CPUT members involved showed such great effort not only to make the student project work, but also “to give us a very special time in Cape Town”.

“Students, staff members, faculty members, everyone had to walk the extra mile to make this happen. And everyone made us feel they believed in this cross-continental university project.”

However, she acknowledged that initially they had some challenges and doubts. “But in the end, we were rewarded in the most exciting and fruitful manner. And I personally, but also in the name of all participating students, traveling or non, would like to express my sincere gratitude. This was pioneering at its best. This project is also asking for an encore.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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The Department of Applied Legal Studies recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners South Africa Chapter (ACFE-SA).

Through the MOU, the ACFE-SA committed to assisting students with internships, conference attendance, student membership fees, and establishing a student chapter. Acting Head: Department of Applied Legal Studies, Servious Hungwe said the journey/collaboration commenced in 2022 focusing on various academic activities. “This signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Applied Legal Studies and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners South Africa Chapter formalised the collaboration,” Hungwe said. At a ceremony held at Bellville Campus, the two parties discussed the general guiding principles under which ACFE SA and CPUT will collaborate.

“The meeting was a resounding success as it formalised our collaboration through the MOU. This MOU benefits both lecturers and students. The ACFE-SA committed to creating opportunities for CPUT students through the ACFE SA learnership programmes and training opportunities etc.” he said.

Lecturers were also invited to become Educator members, to have access to the international Educator forums and gain access to materials. The two parties will be working together where strategic aims and goals align. The following areas underpin the MOU to enhance learning and teaching:

• Student internships.
• CPUT annual career day.
• Student memberships
• Student chapter.

“This collaboration provides new opportunities for the university and inculcates values, ethics, professionalism, knowledge, and skills among the youth,” Hungwe remarked.

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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