WIPO Expands its Distance Learning Program

Geneva, October 8, 2008
PR/2008/570

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has added five new multilingual courses to the distance learning program offered by its Worldwide Academy. The new courses will cover Arbitration and Mediation Procedure, Patents, Patent Information Search, Basics of Patent Drafting, and Trademarks. 

Over 7,000 students are currently participating in the established range of distance learning courses offered by the Academy which include: Primer on Intellectual Property, General Course on Intellectual Property, and advanced courses on Copyright and Related Rights, Electronic Commerce and Intellectual PropertyandBiotechnology and Intellectual Property. They join more than 86,000 individuals from around the world who have taken the WIPO online courses since the launch of the program in 1999. Courses are offered in seven languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish). 

WIPO’s distance learning program aims to improve access to intellectual property-related educational materials. The distance learning initiative takes full advantage of state-of-the-art information technology and the Internet as an alternative to traditional training programs. It offers new teaching methodologies, evaluation tools, and tailored means of delivery to expanded audiences. By using the Internet as a delivery platform, distance learning removes constraints such geographical location and time.  

Teaching takes place in the virtual environment of the WIPO Academy website, where students may register for the courses. A network of tutors located in various regions of the world support students during the course. Students and teachers can interact as necessary during the course.  Communication takes place through electronic mail and discussion fora with the responsible tutors. Assignments and final examination papers are submitted to the Academy’s course administrator who coordinates the continuous assessment of each student.  At the end of the course, successful students are awarded a certificate to acknowledge completion of the course.