Journal of Asian Pedagogies and Teacher Formation

Students at Tangub City Global College continue to experience limited understanding of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), affecting their ability to protect creative and academic outputs. This study assessed students’ level of IPR awareness at Tangub City Global College during the academic year 2023–2024. Using a descriptive-comparative approach, 365 students were selected through stratified random sampling and surveyed using an adapted-modified questionnaire covering four IPR components: copyright, trademark, patent, and industrial design. Results showed that most respondents were female and aged 20–22 years. Students demonstrated awareness of trademarks, copyright, and industrial design, with trademarks receiving the highest awareness level (grand mean = 3.0). However, patent awareness was low, indicating a notable knowledge gap in invention-based protection. Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in awareness when grouped by age and institute. A substantial difference was found between male and female respondents, with male students showing slightly higher awareness, suggesting that gender-related factors may influence how students understand and engage with IPR. Although the difference was minimal, it highlights the need for inclusive and accessible IPR education. Overall, students showed sufficient knowledge of industrial designs, copyrights, and trademarks, but inadequate knowledge of patents may limit their ability to safeguard inventions and maximize related opportunities. The findings suggest that institutions should implement comprehensive and inclusive IPR education, particularly on patents, across all academic institutes and student orientations.