Report from annual epi Tutors’ meeting on 12 October 2023
B. Atalay, Chair, epi Tutors and Coaches Subcommittee Professional Education Committee
M. Mackett, Chair, epi Students and EQE Candidates Subcommittee
The first part of the annual epi Tutors’ Meeting was held on October 12, 2023 at the Holiday Inn, Hochstrasse in Munich. The meeting was in a hybrid format moderated by Margaret Mackett. It featured three segments with different speakers and topics.
In the first segment, Jirka Bacik discussed the transformation of the tutor’s role into that of a content creator as well as a conventional tutor. The second segment featured Derek Jackson (now retired), who provided insights into the history of tutoring and past EQE papers as well as well as the current state of tutoring. In the third segment, Anna Valborg Gudmundsdóttir and Sara Morabito presented the survey results from Paper C covering the years 2021 to 2023.
In summary, the first part of the meeting allowed tutors to discuss the evolving role of tutors, the history and current state of tutoring, and the results of the Paper C survey study.
The epi Tutors who attended the meeting in person in Munich were able to join in the evening buffet dinner at Hofbräukeller in Wiener Platz.
The second part of the epi Tutors’ Meeting, again moderated by Margaret Mackett, was held on November 3, 2023, fully online to facilitate further discussion on the evolution of the EQE and the changing dynamics of how tutors should interact with candidates. This includes not only providing training but also developing new material tailored for the updated EQE. The 2023 exams were briefly discussed, with comments noting a greater emphasis on an electromechanical style, with Paper A reverting to the old-style multiple embodiment generalization format.
Discussions delved into the structuring of a diverse range of questions in the new EQE, allowing for testing in more varied ways within the updated system. Considerations were made on how tutors should prepare their candidates for this new format, emphasizing the importance of awaiting further clarification on the specifics.
In an effort to assist candidates taking the exams in a non-native language, usually English. it was suggested to include reading lists that incorporate materials such as the Harry Potter series of books and Bill Bryson’s “A Short History of Nearly Everything”. These resources aim to enhance candidates’ English reading skills, even though the content may not be technical. Additionally, candidates were encouraged to read newspapers, blogs, and explore patents outside their specific technical field, as well as engage in translation exercises, as these practices can prove beneficial.
The next meeting is scheduled for February 14, 2024 at 11am via Zoom. If there are any patent attorneys wishing to join the ranks of epi tutors and attend the meeting, please contact the Education Team at the epi Secretariat (Education@patentepi.org).
