The 17th edition of the WIPO Joint Master’s Program in Intellectual Property (MIP) at Africa University successfully concluded on June 7, 2025. This program is organized in cooperation with the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) with the support of the Funds-In-Trust Japan Industrial Property Global (FIT/Japan IP Global).
The graduating cohort of the 17th edition comprised twenty-nine participants from twelve countries with 12 participants having received scholarships from WIPO and FIT/Japan IP Global. The 12-month program comprised 3 three semesters which included distance learning, residential and research phases. The comprehensive MIP curriculum covered new and emerging issues in the area of IP such as AI and its interface with regulatory and ethichal frameworks as well as examined practical case studies about the role of patents, trademarks, designs and geographical indications (GIs) for sustainable development.
Several experts contributed to the delivery of the program’s rich curriculum including Mr. Shoichi Okuyama, Patent Attorney, Okuyama & Sasajima, Tokyo, who shared practical insights about the intricacies of patent drafting. Others included Mr. Mpazi Sinjela, Chancellor of UNICAF University, Zambia, Professor Amos Saurombe, Departmental Chair, College of Law at UNISA, Dr. Fernando Dos Santos, Law Lecturer, Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo, and Dr. Marisella Ouma, Deputy Solicitor General, Office of the Attorney General, Kenya.
As part of the program, a conference was held of December 4 and 5, 2024, at the ARIPO Secretariat on Intellectual Property and Agriculture. The conference considered IP’s role in incentivizing sustainable agriculture in Africa and the regional and international frameworks and instruments that support food production and food security.
The class of 2025 is expected to play a prominent role in promoting the use, awareness and protection of IP across Africa. Over two thirds of participants are employed in national IP Offices, research institutions and business-related start-ups.
About the MIP Program
The MIP program was jointly established by WIPO, ARIPO and Africa University in 2008 to benefit participants from the African region. It was designed to meet the significant demand for IP expertise by empowering students and young professionals with the knowledge and technical skills needed in the region.
This MIP program combines distance learning, classroom instruction, and practical training at ARIPO. In particular, the practical skills training at ARIPO is a key hallmark of the program, ensuring that upon graduation, participants possess sufficient practical skills required in universities, government, and industry. The MIP at Africa University is WIPO’s longest-running Joint Master’s Degree Program in the African region.