Participants of the hybrid practicum during the on-site component with Dr. Bukusi (seated in the centre) along with CBEC Faculty. While the practicum was initially planned only for those in Karachi, participants included those from outside the city as well as an international one from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
CBEC-KEMRI BIOETHICS TRAINING INITIATIVE (CK-BTI) ACTIVITIES
Bioethics Pedagogy Workshop Nairobi, Kenya, September 3-6, 2024
The Bioethics Pedagogy workshops, under the CK-BTI program, were initiated in December 2021. While three such workshops have been conducted in Pakistan, no initiative of this nature existed for Kenyan participants. This workshop targeted bioethics educators who are now teaching Master’s in Bioethics program at two Kenyan universities, Mount Kenya University and Amref International University (AMIU). The workshop was facilitated by CBEC faculty, Dr. Bushra Shirazi and CBEC Associate Faculty, Dr. Muhammad Shahim Shamim. The purpose was to equip participants with practical strategies to deliver effective bioethics education.
Each day was organized around specific themes, incorporating interactive lectures, hands-on activities and feedback to enhance knowledge and skills. During the workshop, participants learned drawing up lesson plans and measurable objectives. They were also taught how to highlight ethical issues through the use of tools including videos, artworks and vignettes.
Participants appreciated the hands-on activities and critique received from facilitators and peers during the workshop. They suggested the inclusion of assessment techniques in bioethics for future workshops. It is hoped that through these efforts, teaching bioethics will become more engaging for different cohorts of students.
Hybrid Practicum on Bioethics Grant Writing Karachi, Pakistan, May to August, 2024
Grant writing is an important skill that researchers are increasingly required to possess. Keeping this in view, the Centre organized this practicum, the outcome of which was the successful submission of at least one grant proposal. Thirty participants, from diverse backgrounds, were selected based on their proposed grant idea.
The practicum was led by Dr. Elizabeth Bukusi, co-director of CK-BTI, based in Nairobi, Kenya. Four virtual sessions were conducted before the on-site sessions and at the end of these, it was expected that a tentative grant proposal would be developed. The on-site workshop was held in Karachi from August 5 to 8 which involved hands-on exercises, real-time peer reviews and personalized feedback. During the physical interactions, participants refined their proposals and learned how to draw up budgets. One month after this, an online session was also held for participants to receive additional feedback on their completed proposals.
The practicum has proven to be highly successful, as several participants have their proposals ready for submission. Additionally, two participants have also won an external award for their projects developed during the practicum. Building on this success, the Centre envisions organizing a similar practicum for northern Pakistan, incorporating valuable insights and lessons learned from this pilot program.