Report of the Professional Education Committee
PEC held an in-person meeting in May and an online meeting in October 2024. During the in-person meeting we had two separate break-out sessions: one for CPE related matters and one for EQE training matters. A brief update on recent activities for the sub-committees are set out below.
Professional training (CPE):
The CPE sub-committee continues to organize CPE for all epi members. In 2024, we did two UP/UPC roadshows, 8 seminars ( or which 4 were also livestreamed) and 11 webinars. Please refer to the epi-learning website (Home | epi-learning) for details of the webinars.
There have also been a number of podcasts are proving successful and are accessible using the link: Podcasts – INSIGHT epi – The podcast for European patent professionals
The Education of professional representatives’ staff sub-committee ran a course on behalf of epi to support candidates taking the EPAC.
There is also a Mandatory reporting of CPE working group and this group has now gathered information on the CPE reporting systems from EPC member states. They are still in the investigative phase and the PEC members will be seeking informal feedback from their Council members to see if there are any roadblocks to a system of mandatory reporting of CPE for EPAs.
EQE training
Following the decision at C97 to switch to an absolute threshold measured in ECTS points, the epi members have met regularly to discuss how the level of ECTS points could be set. A survey was sent out to all PEC members to see how many ECTS points are typically awarded for scientific/technical subjects in their member states. Next steps will be discussed at C98.
There have also been meetings between the EPO secretariat and members of the EDI working group. A proposed improvement to Rule 17 IPREE which previously referred to disability has been presented by the epi members of the EDI working group to PEC and will be discussed with the EPO secretariat.
epi continues to provide support to candidates sitting the current EQE. Additionally, a team of epi volunteers worked together to prepare a first sample module F to complement the official mock module F. These new papers can be accessed here: Official mock – EQE_mock_paper_F_EN & epi mock – epi example Foundation Paper
The EQE subcommittee has met to elect a chair and to scope out its activities so that all aspects of EQE training are covered by PEC. Members of PEC are also working with the EPO in improving the EQE guide for preparation to provide more information to help candidates prepare for the new EQE.
