Focus on practical skills, not theory, experts say

A plan approved at a central government inter-ministerial conference in March aims to improve the quality of professionals and build national training centers to advance the national intellectual property strategy adopted in 2008.

The blueprint also calls for further creation and support for intellectual property as well as enhanced legislation and expanded international exchanges.

Implementation of the nation's intellectual property strategy requires a great number of experts and specialists in fields ranging from the judiciary, trade, business management, education and research, insiders said.

"Nurturing professionals plays a pivotal role in providing support in human resources and as a guarantee for the sustainable development of intellectual property in China," said Tian Lipu, commissioner of the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO).

There are now more than 30,000 professionals working in intellectual property fields nationwide.

In recent years at least 3 million people have received instruction from central and local intellectual administrations, but colleges and universities remain the major training ground.

SIPO now cooperates with the Ministry of Education to organize six annual training sessions for intellectual property academics in an effort to improve the quality of instruction.

Intellectual property is usually studied as a major at law schools in China, but the issues faced in actual work often require a diverse educational background.

School curricula should include a variety of majors in addition to law, such as business management and economics, experts said.

And with the complexities of patent data "it would be better if the educational structure included science and engineering", said Zheng Shengli, a Peking University professor.

Practical prowess is key to intellectual property work, so more exposure to a working environment would help increase understanding of theories learned at school and develop a pragmatic attitude in resolving intellectual property issues, the experts add.

Theoretical instruction should be reduced to one-third of the current level, with the remaining coursework designed to offer experience needed in the workplace, said Xu Youjun, deputy head of the Shenzhen intellectual property administration, who previously served as a law teacher.

Half the practical instruction should be lectures given by judges, patent examiners and attorneys and the other half gained through company internships in research, negotiating skills and managerial approaches, Xu added.

As part of ongoing efforts to improve the overall professional environment, the first national intellectual property training center has opened in Hunan province, according to SIPO.

The central government agency will continue hosting seminars and offering training to increase intellectual property awareness and ensure the enforcement of the national strategy, SIPO said.

China Daily

(China Daily 04/14/2010 page17)