AIPO gets Certified in Design Thinking Facilitation

The Ateneo Intellectual Property Office (AIPO) has earned global certification in Design Thinking Facilitation from the DesignThinkers Academy (DTA), a globally recognized hub for design thinking and innovation expertise with offices in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Eastern Europe, Hong Kong SAR, Jordan, London, New Zealand, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, and the United States. The certification was awarded after an intensive workshop held on October 7-8, 2024, at the DTA Headquarters in Amsterdam, Netherlands. 

Representing AIPO, Mr Steve Chaves and Ms Mariela Alcaparas completed the rigorous program, which provided comprehensive training on facilitating the Design Thinking process. This methodology is pivotal in addressing complex challenges by emphasizing empathy, ideation, and prototyping. Their certification equips AIPO with enhanced capabilities to guide teams in generating creative solutions and fostering collaborative innovation.

Group photo with DTA workshop participants

Notably, AIPO has been offering Design Thinking Workshops to students, faculty, units, offices, corporate teams, and organizations both within and outside Ateneo for the past five years. This long-standing commitment to Design Thinking reflects its focus on innovation and capacity-building.

Photo: AIPO staff receive their certificates from DTA

The workshop not only deepened participants' understanding of Design Thinking but also enabled them to engage with international experts and practitioners, enriching their perspectives and techniques. Mr Chaves and Ms Alcaparas’ participation reflects AIPO’s proactive approach to adopting global best practices and ensuring the relevance of its services in a rapidly evolving landscape.

This achievement was made possible in part with the support of Ateneo de Manila University’s Office of the Vice President for Higher Education (OVPHE). Their backing highlights the university’s commitment to fostering a culture of innovation and providing resources for its offices to excel in their respective fields.

The DTA certification marks a significant milestone for AIPO, positioning it as a competent facilitator of human-centered design and problem-solving. It also further enhances its ability to contribute to the university’s aim of being a force for good in seeking innovative and sustainable solutions to society’s most pressing challenges, while empowering stakeholders and driving impactful initiatives both locally and globally.

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Interested in how Design Thinking can help you or your team? Contact AIPO at aipo@ateneo.edu.

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