‘Bridging academia-industry gap to prevent talent loss’

Need for legislation to address issues surrounding IP rights in academia and research discussed among other elements

KARACHI:

Chairman of the Sindh Higher Education Commission Professor Dr SM Tariq Rafi has highlighted the HEC efforts to bridge the gap between academia and the business community to prevent talent loss from universities and secure their products through Intellectual Property (IP) Rights.

He was speaking as the chief guest at a two-day workshop organised by the University of Karachi's Office of Research, Innovation, and Commercialisation for faculty capacity building on IP Rights at the KU Chinese Teachers Memorial Auditorium on Wednesday.

Prof Rafi stressed that the workshop would raise awareness among faculty members and scholars about the importance of IP rights in providing legal protection to the research work of teachers, scholars, and researchers. He encouraged participants to delve into the details of IP rights, including its responsibilities, prospects, and challenges.

Acknowledging that Pakistan faces challenges in adhering to international copyright standards, he stressed the need for legislation to address the issues surrounding IP rights in academia and research. He assured support to teachers and researchers in registering their creative works under IP rights.

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Expressing concern over the gap between academia and industries, Prof Rafi stressed the importance of adapting the curriculum to market demands. He urged faculty members and university administrations to address this issue for the betterment of higher education and students.

Meanwhile, KU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi stated that the university, by involving field experts at the department level, is making necessary changes to its curriculum based on industry inputs.

Prof Iraqi noted that universities can offer sustainable solutions to industry problems through research initiatives.

Earlier in the workshop, Dr Syeda Hoor Ul Ain, the Director of ORIC, highlighted its objective to help faculty members and researchers commercialise their research.

During the first day's training session, Saima Kanwal, Senior Patent Examiner at the Intellectual Property Organisation, covered various aspects of IP rights, including copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, and ethical issues.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2024.