University of Guyana / Greater Georgetown / Guyana / Saturday, April 6, 2024

UG, US Patent and Trademark Office Host Commemorative Discussion on Intellectual Property Ahead of World Intellectual Property Day

The University of Guyana in collaboration with the United States Embassy Office for International Trade and the US Patent and Trademark Office, on Friday, April 5, 2024, hosted a very timely and enlightening discussion on Intellectual Property (IP) ahead of World Intellectual Property Day which will be observed on April 26, 2024.

The event which was hosted at UG’s George Walcott Lecture Theatre (GWLT), sought to sensitize students and interested parties about Intellectual Property and saw the involvement of a wide-cross section of stakeholders, including, IP experts, academics, persons involved in the creative industries, Chambers of Commerce among others.

Regional Intellectual Property Advisor for Mercosur, French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname, Ms Maria Beatriz Dellore, presented an Overview of Intellectual Property. Ms Beatriz noted that once an individual or entity has the pillars of Intellectual Property “they will have the benefit of attracting investors because whatever is protected allows the individual or entity to have exclusive rights and this enables both parties to have a more free and open conversation to invest.”

Regional Intellectual Property Attaché for Mercosur, French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Mr David Kellis, in his presentation on Intellectual Property and the Sustainable Development Goals, highlighted certain parallels showing countries that have a strong IP infrastructure enjoying strong economic growth. He further noted that there is a need for inclusive and equitable education, citing the fourth sustainable development goal of quality education and lifelong learning opportunities.

Dean of UG’s School Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation (SEBI), Professor Leyland Lucas in his presentation delved into the IP Space in Guyana emphasising the need for all stakeholders to understand the importance of protecting intellectual property. He noted that without IP, countries as a whole could lose on all fronts, including losing their creative resources and finances.

Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Prof Paloma Mohamed Martiand in her opening remarks noted that UG has a fairly robust internal architecture to protect its own as well as students' intellectual property and has a course in the Department of Law specifically upon this but will include a sensitization module in its free compulsory Human Relations service course. However, she pointed out that the forum is meant to raise the level of discourse to the national level so that the issue will receive the continuous care and attention required in Guyana’s rapidly evolving scientific, creative, innovative, business, and manufacturing landscape.

A lively Questions and Answers Session followed the presentations. Prof. Courtney Abel from UG’s Department of Law, in his closing remarks said intellectual property rights are paramount for creators, inventors and innovators as there is a need for a balanced system that benefits the society as a whole.

Please see more pictures and the presentations here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1KxUWn0GnfTEknH29wW1DsEQ4vTKgy3yR?usp=drive_link

United States of America Embassy Officials along with the University of Guyana officials pose for a photo after the Discussion

The University of Guyana in Brief

The University of Guyana, the national University of Guyana, now in its 60th year, was founded in October 1963, three years before Guyana became independent. “UG”, as it is fondly referred to, offers over 160 distinct programmes in over 60 disciplines, from certificates, Bachelor’s degrees, Master’s Degrees to Ph.D.’s. These programmes are offered online, face-to-face or in blended formats. UG delivers through a Guyana-based system across eight campuses. This includes its 35-year-old community-based Institute for Distance and Continuing Education (IDCE) and the second major campus at Tain in Berbice celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025. The University of Guyana’s student population is over 11,000.

Through its eight (8) Faculties, including an accredited College of Medical Sciences, School for Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation and the Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences which is ranked # 5 globally. “UG” has provided education, training and research for over 60,000 alumni over its 60-year history with significant national and global impact. Other faculties include the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, the Faculty of Natural Sciences, the College of Behavioural Sciences and Research, the Faculty of Education and Humanities and the Faculty of Social Sciences. The University is also home to ten (10) Research Institutes including the internationally important Centre for Biodiversity, the Institute for Food and Nutrition Security, the Institute for Innovation, Research and Entrepreneurship, the Institute for Energy Diplomacy, the Green Institute, the Institute for Human Resiliency, Strategic Security and the Future, and the International Centre for Excellence in Early Childhood Education.

The mission of the University of Guyana is to discover, generate, disseminate, and apply knowledge of the highest standard for advancement of communities, the nation, and mankind within an atmosphere of academic freedom, transparent accountability, pragmatic innovation, and universal respect.

UG’s forward-thinking Blueprint 2040 is currently setting the course for the University’s future design and institutional response to the changing needs of Guyana, the region and the world. UG is currently celebrating its 60th anniversary with a renewed focus on becoming the leading teaching and research University in Guyana. Visit UG at www.uog.edu.gy