The CLAW representatives took the students' voices to heart. We not only heard them but also acknowledged our commitment to ensuring that their challenges receive the necessary attention and action.

The College of Law scheduled the 2026 Student Engagement, Quality Assurance and Student Support (SEQASS) workshop for their postgraduate students in the Western Cape on 9 and 10 April. Hosted by the Parow Regional Office, this two-day workshop provided a platform for postgraduate students registered in the College of Law to meet with CLAW members and other key stakeholders.

Mr Motale Nkgoang, the Regional Director of Unisa Western Cape, opened the event and was followed by a welcome address from Prof Mpfari Budeli-Nemakonde, the Executive Dean of the College of Law. Prof Budeli-Nemakonde emphasised the College's commitment to ensuring that its students receive the support and guidance necessary not only for the successful completion of their postgraduate qualifications but also for them to enjoy the journey and make meaningful contributions to society.

Intense dialogue, vigorous discussions and delightful engagement characterised this two-day workshop. Day one of the programme included presentations from various key portfolios, focusing on topics such as research support initiatives for master's and doctoral students, academic integrity and Turnitin, the M&D dashboard, the postgraduate examination process, and the role of the MOU in framing the supervisor-student relationship throughout the supervision journey. The CLAW librarian, Ms Yegis Naidu's presentation was the highlight of the day.

Day two focused primarily on group discussions and on capturing students' voices on matters that impacted them during the various phases of their postgraduate journeys. The students were also educated and entertained on the innovative and ethical use of artificial intelligence in their academic journey, as well as the AI tools made available to them by the University. The ethical and ingenious use of Keenious was another highlight of the programme, with many participants learning about it for the first time.

Both the postgraduate students who attended in person and those who joined online took the opportunity to highlight where the College was doing well and where it did not deliver on its promises. Throughout the workshop, the key phrase that resonated was "we are doing well, but we can do better".

The CLAW representatives took the students' voices to heart. We not only heard them but also acknowledged our commitment to ensuring that their challenges receive the necessary attention and action. To conclude the workshop, the students were treated to an educational excursion to the South African Parliament. This session was an invaluable opportunity for students to gain deeper insights into Parliament's role, processes and functioning.

*By Prof Bernadine Benson, Acting Head: Quality Assurance College of Law