Institutions have begun to develop ethics committees looking at human subject research and also clinical ethical issues in healthcare delivery. Their membership is often untrained and there are few opportunities for them to get formal training. Often, members of such committees, even though interested in bioethics, cannot make the time required to join formal degree or diploma level programs. The Certificate Course (CC) offered by CBEC provides an opportunity for such individuals to enhance their capacity in focused areas of research or clinical ethics, while making a limited time commitment towards the training.The primary objective of the CC is to introduce the participants to the basic concepts of either Research Ethics or Clinical Ethics so that they can return to their institutions and contribute towards the functioning of ethics committees.
The Centre of Biomedical Ethics and Culture (CBEC) initiated two Certificate programs in 2014, one in Research Ethics and the other in Clinical Ethics. These are offered every other year, alongside the Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) in Biomedical Ethics and Master’s in Bioethics (MBE) teaching sessions.
Course participants are required to attend all sessions of the relevant module, either on Research Ethics or on Clinical Ethics, and are awarded a Certificate of Participation. Course participants share the same round table seating format along with the PGD and MBE students, and undergo the same learning experience. They also share the same readings along with the degree program students. However, unlike the PGD and MBE students, the Certificate Course participants are enrolled only for one module.
- Relevant individuals, serving on ethics committees, or potential members of such committees who are deemed to be suitable for the CC are nominated by our alumni. The selection is based on their current involvement with bioethics, as well as their CV. There is no test or interview for inclusion in the CC.
- CC students are not graded and there are no assignments or exams. However, they are expected to observe punctuality, full attendance and to participate in class discussions to be awarded the Certificate of Participation.
- The CC participants are expected to read the materials shared with them prior to the course. They are expected to maintain a 100% attendance throughout the course which can last up to 2 weeks, from 8 am to 6 pm. There are no take-home assignments for the CC participants during the course in order to keep the workload on them to the minimum. There is therefore minimal disruption of the normal schedule for the participants, other than mandatory attendance during the course.
- CBEC-SIUT waives tuition fee of all students selected into the CC program and provides all reading material for courses electronically, at no cost. Lunch, tea, and snacks are also provided free during the modules held in Karachi.
- Subject to availability, free accommodation (without meals) may be offered at the SIUT residential apartments for out-of-town candidates on a twin sharing basis. The apartments provide free Wi-Fi for use by students.
- Complementary daily transportation between the SIUT apartments and CBEC is provided for the duration of the modules in Karachi. Travel to and from Karachi for out-of-town students will be their own responsibility. CBEC-SIUT will however provide airport pick and drop services for non-Pakistani students to facilitate their arrival and departure. Pakistani students will be responsible for their transport arrangements to and from the Karachi airport. Several reliable radio cab services at the airport are easily available and can be utilized.
- All teaching takes place in CBEC in Karachi in a facilitative learning environment. CBEC is located on the 7th Floor of the Suleman Dawood Transplant Tower, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) on Yaqub Khan Road. Adequate workspaces, computers, internet access, a library and photocopying facilities are available on site.
For more information, please contact us at cbec.siut@gmail.com