The Program

Based on the model of its long distance learning Masters in Bioethics Program, Union Graduate College, in partnership with the Department of Medical History and Ethics of Vilnius University (Lithuania), offers a graduate level, combination on-line and on-site Advanced Certificate Program in Research Ethics aimed at training clinicians, scientists, academics, lawyers, and administrators from countries of the former Soviet Union including Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries to become research ethicists, advocates for human research subjects protection, and institutional and national leaders in their home countries.

The Program consists of 7 graduate courses including 2 seminar courses (7 days each) held at Vilnius University and other European locations, 3 on-line courses (10 weeks each), and 2 hybrid on-site/ on-line project courses. The total length of the Program, which begins with an introductory seminar at Vilnius University in August 2011, is 20 months. Both the on-line and on-site courses are taught in English jointly by European and American lecturers. In addition, scholarships are available for promising students interested in completing a Masters in Bioethics from the Union Graduate College Bioethics Program.

Thus far, three cohorts of 13 CEE students have completed or will soon complete the Certificate. Applications are currently being accepted for cohort 4 which will begin in Vilnius on August 7, 2011.

Other purposes of the program are to create a virtual infrastructure to support the Program’s fellows and alumni, provide public on-line resources on research ethics for CEE, and develop Vilnius University as a CEE center of excellence in international bioethics and research ethics. In the process, the Program will train and mentor faculty from CEE to continue this on-line program when the grant period is ended.

Scholarship

Program Co-Directors