Promoting intellectual property propaganda for high school students

Intellectual property is a core element in promoting innovation and optimizing scientific and technological values in modern society. However, in Vietnam, education and equipping high school students with knowledge about intellectual property has not received due attention.

In order to raise awareness and build an intellectual property culture early, on March 25 in Hanoi, the Department of Intellectual Property (Ministry of Science and Technology) organized a workshop with the theme "Sharing experiences in intellectual property education for high school students in Vietnam."

The workshop is a forum for the community to look at intellectual property issues from an educational perspective, to find ways to bring intellectual property closer to the group of subjects who are the future of the country in the most effective way, contributing to the implementation of one of the important tasks of "building an intellectual property culture" set out in Vietnam's Intellectual Property Strategy to 2030.

Intellectual property should be considered an important field to equip students at all levels.

In order to develop the national intellectual property system in a synchronous and sustainable manner, the issue of intellectual property education for the young generation, especially from the high school level, is one of the necessary tasks that has been affirmed by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and effectively implemented by many countries, gradually forming an intellectual property culture in the community, thereby contributing to the creation of a civilized and advanced society.

According to WIPO expert research, creativity peaks between the ages of 12 and 20, when young people realize their talents and develop interests in certain fields.

After this age, traditional educational structures often stifle creativity by dividing subjects into specialized fields, thereby limiting young people's ability to innovate between subjects.

That is why it is necessary to introduce innovation and intellectual property into the curriculum early on to educate students. In this way, the younger generation will be empowered to develop creative thinking and learn how to exploit ideas for tangible economic benefits.

According to Ms. Tedla Altaye - Head of the online training department of the World Intellectual Property Organization, to promote the development of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation, it is necessary to raise public awareness as well as improve enforcement efficiency in the field of intellectual property. That is why it is necessary to soon include innovation and intellectual property content in subjects to educate students.

Mr. Luu Hoang Long - Director of the Department of Intellectual Property. (Photo: Minh Son/Vietnam+)

Speaking at the workshop, Mr. Luu Hoang Long - Director of the Department of Intellectual Property (Ministry of Science and Technology) said that in recent times, the Department of Intellectual Property has promoted propaganda, dissemination of knowledge, and capacity building on intellectual property for the community in general and young people in particular in many forms. "However, the issue of intellectual property education for high school students is a new issue, which has not been implemented systematically and regularly," Mr. Long emphasized.

Therefore, the Intellectual Property Office as well as relevant agencies need the support of businesses and related entities in creating an intellectual property culture in the whole society - contributing to the implementation of the important tasks set out in the Intellectual Property Strategy to 2030.

To promote innovation, the National Office of Intellectual Property has been implementing several propaganda activities at a number of educational institutions in Hanoi such as Van Chuong Primary School, Lang Thuong Primary School, Experimental Primary and Secondary School and has received many positive results.

Dr. Nguyen Hoang Hanh - Director of the Center for Research, Training, Support and Consultancy (Department of Intellectual Property). (Photo: Minh Son/Vietnam+)

A survey by the Intellectual Property Office of 800 students from various schools showed that the majority of primary school students (74%) and secondary school students (87%) said they had never been exposed to knowledge about intellectual property. However, most of them said they were ready to accept this new knowledge.

At the workshop, Dr. Nguyen Hoang Hanh - Director of the Center for Research, Training, Support and Consultancy (Department of Intellectual Property) proposed that intellectual property should be considered an important field that needs to be equipped, educated and trained for students right from high school level.

Bringing intellectual property knowledge into schools

At the workshop, experts agreed that an intellectual property education program for high school students is an urgent need, not only helping them understand their rights and obligations, but also nurturing their creativity and entrepreneurial spirit in the future.

Mr. Le Ngoc Lam - Former Deputy Director of the Department of Intellectual Property emphasized that bringing intellectual property into high schools is extremely necessary. According to Mr. Lam, this model is not rare in the world, and in Vietnam now it is the first step. "We need to apply and improve models to bring intellectual property closer to each level of high school students so that it becomes the foundation in their future lives."

Sharing her experience in disseminating knowledge about intellectual property, Ms. Hoang Yen Nga - Principal of Tan Dinh Primary School (Hoang Mai, Hanoi) said that the Intellectual Property Office had previously piloted the dissemination of intellectual property knowledge to students at Van Chuong Primary School (Dong Da, Hanoi), where she used to be the Principal.

Ms. Hoang Yen Nga - Principal of Tan Dinh Primary School (Hoang Mai, Hanoi). (Photo: Minh Son/Vietnam+)

Ms. Nga said that the pilot teaching of intellectual property knowledge has achieved certain results. "We have integrated it into subjects to help students better understand intellectual property. For example, teachers will create playgrounds for students to promote creativity such as a class logo design contest, after which students will write their copyright name on it. Students realize that their copyright is honored and respected, thereby understanding what intellectual property is. This is a meaningful activity for elementary schools, even the smallest levels."

Ms. Nga also suggested that the Intellectual Property Office should have more activities for all schools, even primary schools, to be able to access this meaningful content.

Mr. Tran Le Hong - Deputy Director of the Department of Intellectual Property also shared that it is completely possible to bring educational programs such as intellectual property into schools. "We will take note of opinions and work directly with the Department of General Education to promote intellectual property popularization activities. The Department of Intellectual Property affirms that it will always accompany managers, businesses, and schools to make intellectual property an effective tool for business, labor, and economic development."

Mr. Tran Le Hong - Deputy Director of the Department of Intellectual Property. (Photo: Minh Son/Vietnam+)

At the workshop, Mr. Trinh Van Son - General Director of Truong Thanh Media Joint Stock Company said that the company and Smartschool have coordinated to research, consult, and learn domestic and international experiences on intellectual property training programs for students at all levels to find solutions suitable for implementation conditions in Vietnam.

During the research and content development process, the company has studied and consulted a number of propaganda and awareness raising activities for the young generation in Vietnam by the National Office of Intellectual Property.

Mr. Son also hopes to receive many comments and contributions to quickly complete the content and digital learning materials to serve the training program in the fastest and highest quality way, contributing to the management agencies and educational institutions to effectively implement the intellectual property education program for students at all levels.

Sharing at the workshop, Mr. Tran Giang Nam - Specialist of the General Education Department (Ministry of Education and Training) also highly appreciated the smart school model, a model that has educational significance in developing students' capacity. Especially education on innovation, intellectual property and startup ideas...

"The number of high school students is very large, they will be the force for economic development of the country in the future. Therefore, it is necessary to promote students' creativity and comprehensive education to create a foundation for national development," said Mr. Nam./.

Intellectual property should be considered an important field to equip students at all levels.

Bringing intellectual property knowledge into schools

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