The Harare Institute of Technology in conjunction with the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) is conducting a two day Intellectual Property Awareness and Training Workshop for part IV students from the various university's schools.
The main objective of this workshop is to inculcate IP knowledge, skills, and competencies to graduating students who will apply this knowledge in their endeavours after graduating and also ensuring they are empowered to actively manage their innovations and ensure IP registration and protection.
In his opening remarks on the first day of the two day workshop, Dean Eng. P. Muredzi revealed that HIT has an Intellectual Property Policy which is critical for the University as it provides guidelines on issues that are pertinent in research activities and commercialisation of research findings. "Key to this policy is the establishment of standards for determining the rights and obligations of Harare Institute of technology’s inventor(s) and other stakeholders with respect to inventions, discoveries and works created by Harare Institute of Technology’s various units. The policy also ensures that the commercial results, financial or other benefits, are distributed in a fair and equitable manner that recognises the contributions of the inventors and Harare Institute of Technology as well as other stakeholders," he said.
Dean Muredzi added that the HIT's IP Policy promotes preserves, encourages, and aids scientific investigation and research. "Our Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development has promoted Education 5.0 which dovetails with the mission and mandate of HIT and with this workshop comes the fruition of its implementation," he said.
The two day workshop is being facilitated by officers from the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) which has been supporting the Institute since 2007, undertaking to assist in funding of HIT's technology transfer, licensing and commercialisation Centre (TTLC). HIT is also participating in the ongoing TISC programme which also includes the Africa Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).
