Faculty views of undergraduate intellectual property policies and practices

Abstract

This study investigated faculty attitudes related to IP policies and practices associated with educating and guiding undergraduate students in intellectual property (IP) development in light of their increased involvement in research and entrepreneurial activities. We surveyed a sample of 143 faculty members from both engineering and entrepreneurship education to examine: (a) the extent and nature of faculty involvement in undergraduate IP; (b) issues confronting faculty as they relate to undergraduate IP; (c) indicators of success; (d) future changes for promoting student involvement in IP generation; and (e) best practices. Most faculty members indicated that unclear policies, a lack of information, and questions around ownership of inventions were the most significant obstacles when guiding and teaching students. This research contributes to best practices for undergraduate IP generation to minimize challenges for faculty, students, and academic institutions.