UCT RC&I receives international delegates on learning visit

Stella Kakeeto and Mordecai Tayebwa, research and innovation managers from Makerere University College of Health Sciences, has a focused objective to introduce and strengthen intellectual property (IP) management knowledge within their institution. They have been on a journey with UCT for more than a year, to conduct a review and update of IP policies, IP management resources, guidelines and standard operating procedures, with guidance from RC&I IP Specialist, Dr Wasiu Afolabi. 

The delegates arrived for their learning visit to UCT RC&I on Monday, August 2022, and were received by Dr Afolabi, IP Manager Philip Hoekstra, IP Specialist Tshepang Khahlu, and RC&I Director Piet Barnard. 

With the learning visit, they were keen to understand the fundamentals of setting up a viable innovation management unit, or how to introduce such processes into their existing research management framework. From the visit, they learnt about RC&I’s 20-year journey at UCT and witnessed first-hand how the UCT team manages IP and pursue commercialisation. 

At the end of the visit, Kakeeto and Tayebwa expressed appreciation for the warm welcome and overall support, confirming that “the discussions were very informative and well aligned with the objective of our visit.”

Kakeeto concluded that UCT’s support enables them to realize what they plan to accomplish to strengthen IP and innovation management at Makerere University. UCT will continue to provide additional guidance as required.