for Teachers of Intellectual Property
Geneva, Switzerland
20 June - 1 July 2011
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) are jointly organizing a two-week colloquium for teachers of intellectual property from developing countries and countries with economies in transition. The eighth colloquium will take place in Geneva, Switzerland from 20 June to 1 July 2011.
What is the colloquium meant to achieve?
The programme aims to provide those teaching and researching in intellectual property and closely related disciplines with an update on the activities and instruments of WIPO and the WTO. It will focus on policy issues under negotiation or discussion in the two organizations, and place these issues in their wider legal and policy contexts. The colloquium aims to strengthen the capacity of universities in developing and transition countries to develop national expertise in intellectual property, thereby building their capacity to provide policy support on current negotiations or discussions in WIPO and WTO.
The colloquium will further strengthen and give structure to the exchange of practical information on relevant national or regional experiences between university teachers and the two Secretariats. Emphasis is laid on enabling participants to develop practical strategies for improving teaching methodologies. To maintain the momentum, it will encourage the establishment and strengthening of contacts between participants and trainers and experts for continuing dialogue and cooperation on intellectual property teaching and research.
A copy of the provisional programme for the colloquium is available.
Who can participate?
Participants are selected from eligible candidates drawn from developing countries and countries with economies in transition across the globe. Some additional places are available for self-funded participants from developed countries.
The colloquium has a strong specialist focus on the law and policy of intellectual property, and assumes that participants have an advanced awareness of this field. Even so, it is a multidisciplinary activity, open to lawyers, economists, and other university teachers and researchers working in the field.
Participants will be asked to give a presentation on an intellectual property policy that is currently under debate in their country.
What are the practical arrangements?
The working language will be English. Twenty-two (22) places are available for applicants from developing countries and countries with economies in transition. The organizers cover their travel, accommodation and subsistence costs. An additional five places are available for applicants from developed countries, but they participate at their own expense.
How do I apply?
To be eligible for consideration, applicants for the 22 funded places must currently work as a university teacher of intellectual property in a developing country or in a country with an economy in transition, and have at least five years' teaching experience. In addition,
- An ongoing role in policy analysis or advice with respect to WIPO or WTO discussions or negotiations is desirable;
- An established track record in research and publication in the field of intellectual property is also desirable;
- Applicants must have an advanced degree and teaching experience in intellectual property law or international law/economics/management with a specialization in intellectual property; and
- Applicants must have an excellent knowledge of English.
The same criteria apply for applicants for the self-funded places allocated for developed country participants.
Applicants should identify a specific topical intellectual property policy or legal issue that is currently under active debate or review in the applicant's country or region, on which he/she would be ready to make a short presentation and prepare a paper for subsequent publication. A one-page summary of this presentation must accompany the Application Form.
Interested candidates need to complete the Application Form online and submit it by 18 March 2011.
The final selection will be made by the organizers, taking into consideration the need for regional and gender balance. Participants in previous colloquia may not apply within five years of their earlier participation, and where two applicants are equally ranked, preference will be given to applicants who have not previously taken part. Selected applicants will be directly notified by the organizers.
Direct contact officials in WIPO and WTO:
Mrs. Martha Chikowore
Training Officer
WIPO Academy
World Intellectual Property Organization
Phone: 41-22-338 7222
Email: wipo-wtocolloq@wipo.int
| Mrs. Xiaoping Wu
Counsellor
Intellectual Property Division
World Trade Organization
Phone: 41-22-739 5111
Email: wipo-wtocolloq@wipo.int
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