Editor's note: Intellectual property, or IP is a key factor for innovation and development in the modern world. As China celebrates the 50th anniversary of its cooperation with the World Intellectual Property Organization or WIPO in 2023, it also showcased its achievements and efforts in fostering a culture of IP that respects knowledge, advocates innovation, abides by the law and competes fairly. In this series, we feature the stories of foreign students who are studying IP in Shanghai, one of China's most dynamic and cosmopolitan cities. They share their experiences of living and learning in Shanghai and their insights into the importance and challenges of IP in the global context.

[Video/WeChat account: Shanghai_IPA]

Brazilian student Iago Camilo de Sousa, currently attending the Shanghai International College of Intellectual Property or SICIP says he's impressed by its innovative teaching model and the diverse learning experience it offers.

De Sousa, who has the Chinese name Yi Ge, hails from Turvania, a small town in Brazil. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in law and has worked as a lawyer.

He's fluent in six languages – Portuguese, English, German, French, Russian and Italian – and is hard at it, learning Chinese. He has also studied and volunteered his services in Portugal, Germany and other places.

"I chose SICIP because I wanted to learn more about IP in China, which is a global leader in this field. I also wanted to experience the culture and lifestyle of this amazing country," he said.

He spoke highly of the high-quality faculty and curriculum of SICIP, which integrates theoretical and practical courses, as well as international and local perspectives.

He said that SICIP has many excellent teachers, who come from Tongji University, international cooperation agencies and legal practice departments. They are knowledgeable, cultured and friendly, he said.

He also valued the chance to learn from international experts, who lecture on the latest trends and developments in the IP field and who have broadened his international vision.

One of his favorite courses was the simulation court, where he and his classmates played the roles of lawyers, judges, and witnesses and reproduced real IP cases. He said that this course enhanced his practical skills, legal thinking, debating ability and teamwork ability.

De Sousa also enjoyed his extracurricular life in Shanghai, where he took part in various activities, such as visiting old-brand enterprises, investigating geographical indications and joining in with dragon boat races.

He said that his learning experience at SICIP has opened up more opportunities and possibilities for his future career development and he is optimistic about the future.