AmCham Macedonia Summer 2014 (Issue 42) | Page 29

PAST EVENTS AmCham IPR Professionals Work with Local Teachers By adapting World Intellectual Property Organization’s educational publications Learn from the Past, Create the Future: Inventions and Patents and Learn from the Past, Create the Future: Arts & Copyright into Macedonian and Albanian in 2013, AmCham Macedonia provided the country’s first comprehensive pedagogical tool on this subject for use by local elementary and middle school teachers. To raise general awareness and encourage the use of these tools, AmCham organized an interactive workshop where 55 local educators were introduced to local business people working in industries that rely heavily on innovation and protection of their IP. Then, teachers reviewed sections of the educational materials and exchanged opinions about creatively introducing them into their classroom routines in a number of subject areas. The gathering brought teachers from across Macedonia together with IPR professionals working in Skopje and active in AmCham’s IPR committee. Intellectual Property Rights Day. AmCham would like to thank our facilitators: • Biljana Janeva, OEM Antipiracy Manager for Adriatic & South Balkan CEE, Microsoft Macedonia and Chairman of the IPR Committee; • Eli Mufishovska, Branch Office Manager, SNB React; • Vlora Ademi, Academic Program Manager, Microsoft Macedonia; • Ljupka Noveska, Attorney at Law, Karanovic & Nikolic; • Elizabeta Dimovska, Administrative Manager, SNB React as well as our two guest speakers: • Jasna Petkov – Stojanovic, innovator of post – maternity underwear and • Biljana Gjorgiovski Angjushev, designer and creator of the brand “Bilia”, without whom this event would not have been possible. Participants agreed that the subject was relevant to a wide variety of subjects and was needed to raise awareness among students and that these publications provided a great starting point. Teachers also commented on the importance of a stable internet connection in their classrooms and enough training in order for them to properly teach this subject to the target age group of 9-14 year olds. The event was organized on April 25th, 2014 as part of AmCham’s regular activities to mark the World Emerging Macedonia Summer 2014 Issue 42 29