Fellowships at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics Campuses

The Fellowships at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics (FASPE) offers intensive educational programs focused on professional ethics, drawing lessons from the Holocaust and Nazi era to inform contemporary decision-making in various fields. At the New York administrative campus, which serves as the organizational hub, fellows engage in preparatory seminars, application processes, and debriefing sessions that complement the core experiential learning conducted in Europe.

• Business Ethics Fellowship: This program explores ethical dilemmas in corporate leadership, examining how business professionals navigated moral challenges during the Third Reich. Participants study case studies on complicity, corruption, and responsibility, applying these insights to modern issues like corporate social responsibility, sustainable practices, and ethical leadership in global markets. Seminars include discussions on whistleblowing, profit motives versus societal good, and the role of executives in preventing atrocities through proactive ethics training.
• Law Ethics Fellowship: Designed for law students and professionals, this fellowship delves into the legal profession's role in upholding justice. It covers topics such as the perversion of legal systems under Nazism, the duty of lawyers to resist unjust laws, and contemporary applications in human rights law, international tribunals, and ethical advocacy. Participants analyze historical trials and simulate ethical decision-making in courtroom scenarios.
• Medical Ethics Fellowship: Focused on healthcare professionals, the program addresses bioethics through the lens of Nazi medical experiments and euthanasia programs. Key areas include informed consent, patient autonomy, resource allocation in crises, and the ethical boundaries of research. Discussions extend to current debates on genetic engineering, end-of-life care, and public health policies.
• Journalism Ethics Fellowship: For aspiring and practicing journalists, this track examines media propaganda during the Holocaust, emphasizing truth-telling, bias avoidance, and the power of reporting to influence public opinion. Fellows explore digital ethics, fake news, and the journalist's role in holding power accountable.
• Religion & Public Life Fellowship: This program investigates the intersection of faith, ethics, and public policy, drawing from religious institutions' responses to Nazism. Topics include interfaith dialogue, moral authority, and the ethical obligations of religious leaders in civic life.

These fellowships, while primarily experiential in Europe, are supported by the New York campus through virtual modules, alumni networks, and ongoing ethics workshops. The curriculum emphasizes interactive learning, peer discussions, and reflections on personal and professional integrity, fostering a commitment to ethical practice that prevents historical repetitions. Participants emerge with enhanced critical thinking skills, applicable across disciplines, promoting a more just society. (Word count: 312)