On July 2, 2020, Shanghai International College of Intellectual Property (SICIP) held the ceremony for its first generation of graduates of both international IP master programs, i.e. WIPO-Tongji Master Degree Program in IP with Specialization in Design (WIPO MIP in Design) and Chinese Government IP Master Degree Program (Chinese Government MIP). Ms. YUAN Qi, the Deputy Director-General of International Cooperation Department of China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), Mr. Joe Bradley, the Head of Academic Institutions Program of WIPO Academy, Mr. LV Guoqiang, the Consultant of WIPO Office in China, Mr. RUI Wenbiao, the Director of Shanghai Intellectual Property Administration (SIPA), Mr. SHI Weidong, the Full-time Vice President of Shanghai Law Society, Mr. LEI Xinghui, the Vice President of Tongji University, all faculties of Shanghai International College of Intellectual Property and more than 100 graduates attended the ceremony.

The first class of students of both international IP master programs in SICIP is more than 30 students, from 19 countries, including 18 international students, which account for 57% of all. SICIP tries to conduct an innovative teaching system, which adopts one-third of international teachers, one-third of external teachers, and one-third of Tongji teachers. The college invited professors from Max-Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition, University of Munich (LMU), University of Zurich, China Academy of Social Science (CASS), Fudan University, etc, and experts from WIPO, the German Federal Court (BGH), Shanghai High People’s Court, King & Wood Mallesons, Unitalen Law Firm, Shanghai Beshiing Law Firm, etc. to provide lectures and guide the thesis writing. The series of professional and inter-disciplinary courses, incl. IP Enforcement, Cross-cutting Issues, Design, and Innovation, among others, are provided in English.

The curriculum has been commonly recognized by the students. Mr. SONG Jian, as a student representative of WIPO-Tongji MIP in Design shared his experience in the ceremony. As he mentioned, in the program, the international IP treaties and IP laws and judicial practices in China and relevant foreign jurisdictions, etc. have been explained, which broadened their international visions and interdisciplinary background. Mr. Song received three master's degrees during his study at the SICIP, namely from Tongji University, Hanover University, Germany, and Oslo University, Norway, and was selected as outstanding graduates of Tongji University. Mr. Kang Sam Oeun, a Cambodian student of WIPO-Tongji MIP in Design stated that the judicial system and IP system he had learned in China were very helpful to the copyrighted work of the Ministry of Culture and Art in his homeland. The students, like Ms. Yang Jing, and Ms. Chu Chu, etc. who took an internship at the WIPO in Geneva for 6 months and worked in the International Patent System Operations Department, and Madrid Department, etc. Their professional knowledge, caring attitude, and foreign language communication ability have been highly recognized by the relevant departments of WIPO. They hope that more students from SICIP could have such a great experience.

In the ceremony, the certificates of course completion for the 3^rd edition of WIPO-Tongji MIP in Design and Chinese Government MIP have been also issued.

Under the support of the WIPO, CNIPA, and Shanghai Municipal Government, Tongji University has established the Shanghai International College of Intellectual Property (SICIP) in November 2016. It is an international high-level intellectual property talent cultivation platform. As the first intellectual property college with the title of “international” in China, Tongji University, where the SICIP is located, is the only university that cooperates with WIPO in the joint offering master programs in intellectual property (WIPO-Tongji MIP in Design). Now, the first generation of students has successfully graduated. The college has gathered a lot of experience for student hiring and management, course designing, and practice organization, which have won high recognition from different national ministries, including the WIPO, the Ministry of Education, the CNIPA, and the Supreme People's Court. In the future, SICIP, Tongji University, will continue to strive to develop an international top-ranking IP discipline, form a world-class international IP talent training base, and build a globe-influential Think tank for sustainable development and IP research to support Innovation-driven Development Strategy, the construction of the Shanghai Global Science and Technology Innovation Center and the Asia-Pacific Intellectual Property Center.