Nearly 90% of Vietnamese students have never had access to intellectual property education.

On the morning of March 25, the National Office of Intellectual Property (Ministry of Science and Technology) organized a workshop to share experiences in intellectual property education for high school students in Vietnam. Experts at the workshop emphasized that intellectual property (IP) plays a key role in nurturing the spirit of innovation from an early age, helping students not only access but also know how to exploit ideas to create practical values.

Experts stress that intellectual property plays a key role in nurturing the spirit of innovation.

Bringing Intellectual Property into General Education: A Necessary Step

IP is a specialized field with high applicability but is not easy to access, even for researchers or businesses. In order to help high school students better understand this field, the National Office of IP has coordinated with many schools in Hanoi to organize extracurricular activities with the motto "learning while playing."

Ms. Hoang Thuy Nga, Principal of Tan Dinh Primary School, spoke at the workshop.

During the three-year pilot, the lessons have flexibly combined theory and practice, using films and games to illustrate intellectual property concepts. Ms. Hoang Thuy Nga, Principal of Tan Dinh Primary School (Hoang Mai District, Hanoi), shared: “ Initially, IP was a strange concept for primary school, but thanks to familiar lessons, we were able to integrate this content into subjects, helping students identify and better understand the value of creativity."

Students participate in learning about intellectual property through games. (Photo: Department of Intellectual Property)

The rapid development of science and technology and international economic integration are creating an urgent need to raise awareness of intellectual property. According to research by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), creativity peaks between the ages of 12 and 20, when young people discover their talents and personal interests. However, the traditional education system tends to stifle creativity by dividing knowledge into separate fields.

“Innovation is the backbone of progress, and intellectual property is a reliable companion. Early IP education helps students not only understand intellectual property rights but also know how to exploit their ideas to create real value,” emphasized Ms. Tedla Altaye, Head of WIPO’s e-learning department.

Challenges in intellectual property education in Vietnam

Mr. Luu Hoang Long, Director of the Department of Intellectual Property, emphasized that intellectual property education for the young generation is necessary to gradually form and develop an intellectual property culture.

Despite many efforts, according to a survey by the National Office of Intellectual Property, 87% of secondary school students and 74% of primary school students in Vietnam have never had access to a formal education program on intellectual property. This is a big gap that needs to be filled to ensure that the young generation is well-equipped to enter the era of global innovation and competition.

According to Mr. Luu Hoang Long, Director of the National Office of Intellectual Property: “Intellectual property plays an important role in enhancing technological capacity, promoting innovation and national competitiveness. To truly take advantage of this, it is necessary to raise awareness, disseminate knowledge and strengthen enforcement of intellectual property rights protection.”

Equipping students with knowledge of IP from high school helps them orient their research, protect their intellectual property and commercialize their creativity. When intellectual property rights are protected, breakthrough ideas can become real products, contributing to the development of the economy.

To promote innovation, it is necessary to introduce IP content into the official education program as soon as possible, helping students clearly understand the value of creativity and the responsibility to protect intellectual property. This is not only a strategic step forward in education, but also a solid foundation for Vietnam's future socio-economic development.

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