Institutionalization of Bioethics in Higher Education Institutions: A Systematic Mapping.

Abstract

Bioethics has become a crucial discipline in higher education. This study aims to understand the institutionalization of bioethics within this field and examine documented initiatives related to its integration. To achieve this, a systematic mapping was conducted using Petersen and Kitchenham's methodology, analysing 444 relevant articles. The results indicate a higher concentration of studies addressing the institutionalization of bioethics at the undergraduate level (40.5 per cent), with fewer publications focused on the postgraduate level (19.4 per cent). Most of the studies are concentrated in the health sciences (81.3 per cent), while the remainder are distributed among the social sciences, humanities, biological sciences, and engineering. The analysis revealed a significant lack of studies on comparative practices and the use of replicated experiences (2 per cent), as well as limited evidence on the institutionalization of bioethics research in higher education (10.3 per cent). These gaps underscore the need for further research in these areas. Additionally, the integration of active methodologies and educational technologies has enhanced bioethics programmes (21.4 per cent), fostering more interactive and engaged learning environments. This study highlights a critical gap in the implementation of bioethics based on empirically validated experiences. It proposes the development of an implementation model that adapts these experiences to different educational contexts. Cooperation between institutions and the creation of research networks are recommended as key strategies for sharing best practices, thereby facilitating the more effective and widespread integration of bioethics across various educational settings.