Improving education, research, and service in the field of bioethics and medical humanities to prepare highly qualified, moral, and humane practitioners
Who we are
Bioethics is the scientific study that addresses the ethical issues that arise due to the advancement in the biological and medical sciences. As a developing scientific discipline, bioethics has its own scientific study and perspective that carries a transdisciplinary approach. Bioethics has become a necessity to face the consequences emerging from the rapid development of science and technology in this globalization era. Knowledge, understanding, and skills in managing ethical problems often determine the merits of the effects of science and technology on humanity. Higher education institutions have responsibility for preparing prospective generations of scientists and practitioners who are ethical, professional, and moral.
Founded in 1997, the Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities (CBMH) is committed to developing education, research, and service in the field of bioethics and medical humanities in order to prepare highly qualified, moral, and humane practitioners. The center aspires to achieve its vision through missions in the following areas: (1) education; integrating bioethics and medical humanities into curriculum, (2) research; conducting local, regional, and international research on bioethics and medical humanities, and (3) service; training and educating professionals and community in bioethics and medical humanities.
The center takes a transdisciplinary approach to exploring and addressing the moral issues which underlie research and practice. Incorporating a transdisciplinary approach into bioethics would encourage productive interactions among various fields of science. Our team includes researchers who are experts in a wide range of disciplines such as medicine, psychology, biology, veterinary, and philosophy.
Our center also supports the interdisciplinary postgraduate program in Bioethics, administered by the Graduate School of Universitas Gadjah Mada in the School of Bioethics, Culture, and Religion. It is the first postgraduate program in Bioethics in Indonesia and was established as one of UGM’s flagship programs to contribute to fulfilling the needs for bioethics experts, researchers, practitioners, educators, as well as consultants in various health and medical institutions.
We work closely with Jaringan Bioetika Humaniora dan Kesehatan Indonesia (JBHKI), International Bioethics Committee (IBC), Siloam Hospitals, Indonesian Medical Association (IDI), Harvard University, University of Washington, University of Amsterdam, and Monash University.
Advancing bioethics through research, education, and service
Aspiring for global participation, the center has made significant numbers of contributions to the advancement of bioethics through hosting various international conferences, trainings, collaborative projects and conducting research.
More specifically, our activities are focused on: (1) capacity building for health professionals through formal education (graduates and postgraduates) and continuing professional development and training (certified courses, etc.); (2) infusing and cultivating ethical values into science and technological development, including but not limited to health areas; (3) contributing to the country’s welfare through building and investing transcultural and transdisciplinary attitudes, so that stakeholders and policymakers have the skills in science diplomacy on account of defending nation’s interest, assets and resources.
The center’s contributions to the field of bioethics were not limited to local but extended to global levels. CBMH has been acknowledged nationally as one of the pioneers, trendsetting institutions, and a “barometer” for bioethics development in Indonesia. The center has been given the honor to serve as permanent secretariat for the national network on Bioethics and Medical Humanities (JBHKI).
Our team has designed and conducted a certified training course on a regular basis called Humanity-Ethics-Legal-Professionalism (HELP) course. The course is aimed to equip health professionals with theoretical and practical knowledge on bioethics and medical humanities which can be applied in work or personal settings. The course consists of 6 series covering a wide range of topics from basic bioethics to bioethics education. With a distinct approach to bioethics, the components of HELP have been promoted as a strategy unique to the CBMH. It emphasizes cultivating humanity as the basis for ethical skills while balancing on proper understanding of legal aspects and professionalism in the framework.
These efforts encourage and empower Asia-Pacific initiatives in enriching bioethics development in the global society. In line with this spirit, the center was appointed as the leading coordinator for the International Consortium on Bioethics and Humanities, hosting the Asia-Pacific (Trans-nations) bioethics collaboration (initiated by Indonesia, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Australia).
UNESCO Chair in Bioethics UGM
UNESCO has selected CBMH to serve as a UNESCO Chair in Bioethics UGM. This collaboration is a step to promote a new perspective on the development of bioethics in Indonesia.
The new UNESCO Chair in Bioethics UGM serves as a forum that bridges the academia and the community with stakeholders in research and policy-making. Specifically, this project answers questions regarding Law on Medical Education Number 20/2013, highlighting the importance of bioethics programs in Indonesia.
The project focuses on efforts to enhance the development of bioethics in Indonesia and the Asia-Pacific region. These efforts are targeted on: (1) integrating bioethics education into various scientific disciplines at the higher education or university level; (2) implementing research ethics in all fields of science and scientific disciplines; (3) conducting community empowerment activities that address issues related to bioethics; and (4) maintaining institutional sustainability of bioethics.
Our research
- Reviving critical thinking and sense of ethics and humanity through “Exploring Human Enhancement Technology.” (link http://bioethics.fk.ugm.ac.id/reviving-critical-thinking-and-sense-of-ethics-and-humanity-through-exploring-human-enhancement-technology/)
- Indonesia: Challenges, Changes, Concepts for Future Generations. Handbook of Global Bioethics. (link http://bioethics.fk.ugm.ac.id/indonesia-challenges-changes-concepts-for-future-generations-handbook-of-global-bioethics/)
- Buku Putih Universitas Gadjah Mada: Inspirasi UGM untuk Indonesia “Bioetika”: Meneguhkan Kembali Etika Kehidupan Berbangsa dan Bernegara (link http://bioethics.fk.ugm.ac.id/buku-putih-universitas-gadjah-mada-inspirasi-ugm-untuk-indonesia-bioetika-meneguhkan-kembali-etika-kehidupan-berbangsa-dan-bernegara/)
- Turning The Wheels of Bioethics Education: Yemen – United States – Indonesia Collaboration (link http://bioethics.fk.ugm.ac.id/turning-the-wheels-of-bioethics-education-yemen-united-states-indonesia-collaboration/)
- The Integration of Global and Local Wisdom in Developing The New Sense of Bioethics (link http://bioethics.fk.ugm.ac.id/the-integration-of-global-and-local-wisdom-in-developing-the-new-sense-of-bioethics/)
- Abstracts of The 17th Asian Bioethics Conference (ABC17) (link http://bioethics.fk.ugm.ac.id/abstracts-of-the-17th-asian-bioethics-conference-abc17/)
