Abstract:

Research is being globalised in a way that no researcher in any discipline can deny. Such globalisation is even more pertinent when the subject of research is human beings independent of political or racial boundaries. As such, whether one works in education, health, justice, fundamental rights or bioethics, research today requires an international dimension. In spite of this, in certain countries, universities too often tend to limit the scope of their studies to their own nations or disciplines. Yet research can only truly be useful when it is held up against other systems, other ways of reasoning. This is what makes it essential for researchers to be open to other worldviews and perceptions of reality (especially for human and social sciences). Setting up international research networks allows for such openness to be put into play. Thanks to advances in technology, new communication methods provide new ways to create such networks. The recent creation of the International Academic Bioethics Network is an example. New communication tools have facilitated not only the implementation of this network, but also its formalisation. In the context of Edulearn 09, and more specifically in the section for international projects, we found it pertinent to present the experience of creating the International Academic Bioethics Network, which unites academics from several countries in view of carrying out multidisciplinary studies in areas linked to bioethics. While this experience will be of interest primarily to researchers, it may also help make others involved in education aware of the importance of the network or even guide them in the creation of similar networks.