European Patent Office - Request for Offers for Contractor support

EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE - European Patent Academy

Request for Offers for Contractor support to the Directorate 5.4.4


Contractor's Job description

Background:

The Professional Representatives unit of the European Patent Academy of the European Patent Organisation (EPO) supports training for several target groups, e.g. candidates for the European qualifying examination (EQE), Professional representatives before the EPO, and administrative support staff (paralegals). This support and the training itself are currently mainly provided in the form of seminars, workshops and other training events, which are tailored to the specific target groups, often in association with external partners, e.g. the Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office (epi). In the near future we intend to increase the number of these training activities.

Since 2006, the European Patent Academy has also provided an Internet based platform for candidates preparing for the EQE to exchange views and seek guidance and answers to questions in the run up to the annual examination. Over the last years a number of further online services for EQE candidates, as well as other target groups, have been developed. Changes in the regulations for the EQE also require additional training initiatives.

In this context the Professional representatives unit of the European Patent Academy seeks a contractor.


1. The contractor shall:

i.    Coordinate the organisation of seminars, workshops and other training events (in-house and external) for the training of unit-specific target groups (European patent attorneys and other representatives before the EPO as well as their administrative support staff, candidates to the European qualifying examination)

ii.    Advice on concept for extending the online training activities provided for candidates preparing for the European qualifying examination (the EQE online Forum and other services provided on the website www.eqe-online.org), and support the unit in the administration of the services already available, including:
- managing user administration
- compiling reviews on the use of the various services provided on the website
- updating the content for the various services provided on the website on the basis of material made available by the EPO or other consultants
- preparing documents, based on material already published on the website or foreseen for publication, for translation and coordinating with language services
- advising in the development of new exercises and training tools for the website.

iii.    Further develop and maintain a database of tutors preparing candidates for the European qualifying examination.

iv.    Prepare other documents for translation and publication (e.g. Study Guide, Brochure on the EQE online Forum, etc.).
The services shall be provided alone or in co-operation with the EPO or other contractors.


2. Timeframe:

The activities are envisaged to be required from January 2012 - June 2013. The contractor will be expected to work for a total of approximately 300 days.


3. Location:

Although the European Patent Academy is based in Munich, part of the contractor's work can also be carried out at any other location with access to the Internet.


4. Qualifications required:

A completed university degree is required. Proficiency in at least one of the official languages of the EPO (English, French, German) is mandatory. A sound knowledge of the other two is an advantage.

A combination of at least some of the following experiences would be of advantage:

• organisation of workshops and seminars, including evaluation thereof
• administration of online discussion forums
• training and eLearning
• database management
• preparation of material for publication
• a proven record of communication
• at least basic knowledge of a patent granting procedure, preferably according to the European Patent Convention (EPC)

If your CV and background match with our needs, please forward to the contact person indicated below, by 20 November 2011 at the latest:

• your availability during the indicated period (between January 2012 and June 2013)
• the amount of your daily fee

Armin Zellner
Unit Manager - Professional Representatives
European Patent Academy
Landsberger Str. 30, 80339 Munich
Tel. +49 (0)89 2399 5947
profrep@epo.org