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Board approves new graduate program in Intellectual Property
Studies

Board members received a briefing on the World Intellectual Property Organisation, (WIPO), its mandate and the critical need for professional training IP, from Dr. Mpazi Sinjela, dean of the WIPO Academy

Africa University’s newest academic offering is a master’s degree program in Intellectual Property Studies (MIPS).
The program, due for launch in February 2008, was approved by the Board’s Academicand Student Affairs Committee on 1
December. It is being developed in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a UN agency
based in Geneva, Switzerland and the Africa Regional Intellectual Property Organization, (ARIPO), which has its headquarters in Harare. The two organizations visited Africa University in August to assess and discuss its potential as a home for the program, which is aimed at increasing the number of skilled professionals in Africa working on Intellectual Property protection.
“The program is quite relevant to the University’s mission to build capacity for a well-governed and prosperous Africa,” said
Prof. Rukudzo Murapa, the vice chancellor. The Dean of the WIPO Academy, Dr. Mpazi Sinjela agreed, noting the pan-African nature of the University, its facilities and strong international reputation as key strengths. Intellectual property protection is viewed as an important part of a country’s social and economic development of any country but most sub Saharan countries, with the possible exception of South Africa, lack the adequate systems and human capacity. The program that is being developed at Africa University targets such individuals as lawyers, business professionals and civil servants and is primarily a ‘training of trainers’ initiative.
The MIPS program at Africa University is expected to enroll about 30 candidates each year and WIPO has committed to providing funding for it for an initial five-year period. Instruction will be delivered through a combination of distance learning, field exposure and residential or on-campus teaching. In the longer term, it is expected that there will be sufficient general interest in this field and qualification that the program will attract fee-paying or fully selfsupporting student in sufficient numbers annually to be sustainable.