Rebecca Scott, the Program Manager for the Fellowships at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics, answers a few questions about how the opportunity will take place this spring.
Will the Fellowship take place in Europe?
We are optimistic that the program will be able to take place in Germany and Poland as scheduled, especially given recent positive news about the success and timeline of a potential vaccine. However, we are also mindful that international travel may still be inadvisable and are planning for meaningful alternatives should that be the case.
How are you taking health and safety into account in your decision-making?
The health and safety of participants is our primary concern. We are in direct consultation with medical experts, including top epidemiologists, and all planning and decision-making will be guided by their advisement.
Will the program be cancelled if the pandemic persists into the spring and summer of 2021?
No. It is possible that the program may look different than in years past, but we are committed to offering an enriching 2021 Fellowship experience. We believe that this year offers particularly unique and important opportunities to explore contemporary professional ethical responsibility, and we are excited for the 2021 class of Fellows to engage with these concepts in new and significant ways.
WILL THE 2021 PROGRAM BE VIRTUAL?
We believe that an important aspect of FASPE is the connections made between Fellows and faculty, as we use the lens of fraught and difficult historical example to examine our own responsibility as professionals. FASPE is not a curriculum – it is a learning community. Because of this, it is a high priority for us to include an in-person component. Guided by the advice of medical experts, and taking into account the necessity of extra precautions, we are confident that we will be able to bring FASPE 2021 Fellows together to benefit from the transformative experience of learning from and with their peers.
Over the next few months, as possibilities become clearer, we will share any developments regarding the program with you. In the meantime, we hope that you will encourage your students to apply for this important opportunity.
As a reminder, I am including further information about the program below. If you or potential applicants have additional questions, please don’t hesitate to direct them to me at rscott@faspe-ethics.org.