International Workshop on the Administration of IP Academies: Methodologies and Future Collaboration
WIPO Hosts Training Initiative for National “Start-up” Academies
WIPO hosted the “International Workshop on the Administration of Intellectual Property Academies: Methodologies and Future Collaboration,” from April 26, 2011 – the day marking the 11th World Intellectual Property (IP) Day – to April 29, 2011. The event was organized in the framework of the Pilot Project for the Establishment of “Start-Up” National IP Academies (“Start-up Academies”), a WIPO Development Agenda Project for support in IP education in developing countries and LDCs. The workshop discussed best practices in the offer of IP education and called on WIPO to organize customized training programs.
The event was opened by Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, Deputy Director General, who outlined that the objectives of the Start-up Academies Project are to assist developing countries and LDCs in the establishment of their own National IP Academies. The mission of these academies is to meet the demand for IP education in their respective countries. The project foresees the undertaking of actions that may ensure self-sustainability of Start-up Academies after the end of the cooperation period with WIPO.
Representatives from five IP Academies which are part of the Global Network of Intellectual Property Academies (GNIPA), created in 2007 to facilitate international cooperation and exchange of experience in IP education, took part in the event. Participation consisted of officials from 11 countries and one regional office which are part of the Start-up Academies Project, namely: Algeria, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Peru, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
The workshop comprised three phases addressing both theoretical and practical aspects. A pre-workshop phase dealt with the provision of inventory of the needs and challenges that each national IP Academy is facing. The core workshop phase in which participants received information to develop and ensure sustainability of IP academies as well as coordinate different IP training programs. At the end of the workshop, participants presented proposals of training programs for their national IP Academies. The interactive phase in which participants will work closely with WIPO for the proposal and possible implementation of their respective training programs under their national IP Academies.
Participants from the requesting countries are currently in the process of defining key areas in which WIPO is to assist in capacity building for IP training. To continue the fruitful discussions which took place at the workshop, a forum will also be created to facilitate the exchange of views among participants in the development and implementation of their respective national training programs.
