Teaching of engineering ethics
The decisions and actions of engineers have a profound impact on the world we live in, and society at large. Making a clear and public commitment to operating with integrity and honesty is essential to create a greater level of trust and confidence, and a positive perception of the engineering profession.
Statement of Ethical Principles, The Royal Academy of Engineering.
The increase in interest in engineering ethics is leading to a demand for ethical aspects of engineering to be included within all undergraduate engineering programmes, and it is therefore likely that there will be a mandatory element of engineering ethics at all levels, as well as optional elements:
Evidence has shown that the introduction of engineering ethics as a significant theme in the curriculum provides distinctive added value. The curriculum is enriched and made more relevant to the practice of engineering.
An Engineering Ethics Curriculum Map, Royal Academy of Engineering and Engineering Professors’ Council.
The Inter-Disciplinary Ethics Applied CETL (IDEA CETL) at the University of Leeds, in partnership with the Engineering Subject Centre and the engCETL at Loughborough University, has developed a series of case studies to assist with teaching ethics to engineering students.
Our resource database currently contains 28 resources in the ethics section, listed in summary form below. To view the full descriptive record for each resource click the '[View full description/Comments]' link after the title.
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Full list of 28 resources from the ethics section listed below.
Ethics and employability
(Ed./Ver: series 2, no. 4)
[View full description/Comments]
This guide forms part of The Learning and Employability series, intended for staff in higher education who are involved in the area of student employability. This publication aims to show how ethics, far from being antithetical to business, or an optional add-on to any description of employability, is central to both. It looks at the importance of ethical reflection in contemporary business and the professions. It then analyses more closely the meanings of ethics and employability. Finally, it examines how ethics might be embedded in the curriculum.
Author(s): Rev Simon Robinson
URL(s):
• http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/resources/detail/Employability/employ…
ETHICS website : Subject Centre for Philosophical and Religious Studies
[View full description/Comments]
These archived web pages were produced by the ETHICS Project, a one year initiative funded by the LTSN (now the Higher Education Academy). The website aimed to provide a useful resource for new teachers of ethics looking for ideas on course development, and also for experienced ethicists. You may download and use any materials on the ETHICS web pages. For other websites accessed by links from these web pages, please check individual copyright rules.
Resources include Case Studies, an Online Guide 'Approaches to Ethics in Higher Education : Learning and Teaching in Ethics Across the
...(more)
URL(s):
• http://prs.heacademy.ac.uk/projects/ethics/index.html
ABC defence : engineering ethics case study project
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This is an Engineering Ethics case study from the IDEA CETL. The scenario, which examines the ethical issues around working for the defence industry, is aimed at students who have some experience of ethics. It raises issues about defence; ethics of war; conscience and integrity. It is recommended that this be taught to students at level 3 or 4 due to the sensitive nature of the subject and the fact that the issues addressed are relevant to those students about to enter work. The planned teaching format is a 1 or 2 hour session and small group discussions.
Author(s): Dr Heather Fotheringham, Anon.
URL(s):
• http://www.engsc.ac.uk/downloads/scholarart/ethics/abcdefence.pd…
Advisory board : engineering ethics case study project
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This is an Engineering Ethics case study from the IDEA CETL. It examines how membership of an advisory committee might lead to a conflict of interest. It considers integrity and public duty. The session is aimed at students who have not studied ethics before. The teaching format is a one hour session with small group discussions.
Author(s): Dr Heather Fotheringham, William Webb
URL(s):
• http://www.engsc.ac.uk/downloads/scholarart/ethics/advisoryboard…
An ancient dilemma : engineering ethics case study project
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This is an Engineering Ethics case study from the IDEA CETL. The scenario examines the case of a conflict between completing a project on time and within budget and respecting the demands of heritage. It raises issues about archaelology, heritage and environment. The session is aimed at students who have done some ethics before. It can be integrated into modules that consider different aspects of the construction process. Suggested teaching time is a one or two hour session, with small group discussions, presentations and class debate. After completing this case study students will be able to:
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Author(s): Dr Heather Fotheringham
URL(s):
• http://www.engsc.ac.uk/downloads/scholarart/ethics/ancientdilemm…
An engineering ethics curriculum map : Teaching of Engineering Ethics Working Group
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This document is one of the outputs of the Engineering Professors' Council and the Royal Academy of Engineering's Teaching of Engineering Ethics Group (TEEG). The Engineering Ethics Curriculum Map aims to help academics develop an appropriate programme of teaching and learning that addresses the ethical dimension of engineering.
Author(s): Engineering Professors' Council (Corporate Author), The Royal Academy of Engineers (Corporate Author)
URL(s):
• http://www.raeng.org.uk/news/releases/pdf/Ethics_Curriculum_Map.…
An introduction to ethical thinking : a customisable teaching package
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This is a web-based teaching package for tutors of any discipline who want to introduce students to ethical thinking. It is suitable for tutors new to teaching ethics as well as those with more experience. The package can be customised to the subject area and each session is accompanied by Tutor Notes with ideas for teaching methods and suggestions for specific disciplines. Tutors can choose to use all or any number of sessions from the package.
Author(s): Dr Nafsika Athanassoulis
URL(s):
• http://www.idearesources.leeds.ac.uk/Default.aspx?Id=18
Approaches to ethics in Higher Education : teaching ethics across the curriculum
[View full description/Comments]
The ETHICS Project was a one year initiative whose chief aim was the collective examination of the current provision of applied/professional ethics teaching within Higher Education (HE) to identify key concerns and to facilitate the sharing of good practice. This guide is part of the Project’s output and is aimed at new teachers of ethics looking for ideas on course development, and also experienced ethicists for whom it will provide a ‘snapshot’ of current teaching and learning priorities.
Author(s): Philosophical and Religious Studies Subject Centre (Corporate Author)
URL(s):
• http://prs.heacademy.ac.uk/publications/ethics_across_curriculum…
CV joints : engineering ethics case study project
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This is an Engineering Ethics case study from the IDEA CETL. The scenario examines issues around the intellectual property of an idea possibly inspired by working at a company. The session is aimed at students who have not studied ethics before. Suggested teaching time is a one hour session, with small group discussions.
Author(s): Dr Heather Fotheringham, Prof. Ian Howard
URL(s):
• http://www.engsc.ac.uk/downloads/scholarart/ethics/cvjoints.pdf
Engineering ethics case studies from the Inter-Disciplinary Ethics Applied Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (IDEA-CETL)
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This web page presents engineering ethics case studies developed by the IDEA CETL in partnership with the Engineering Subject Centre and the engCETL. The case studies cover a variety of topics including safety, intellectual property, sustainability and professionalism within a range of engineering disciplines. They are intended to be used with students in a one or two hour session with small group discussions. Each case study sets out a scenario, presents questions for discussion, provides notes for tutors, handouts for students and suggestions for further reading.
Author(s): Dr Heather Fotheringham
URL(s):
• http://www.engsc.ac.uk/er/ethics/ethicscases.asp
Engineering, business and professional ethics
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This book by Simon Robinson, Ross Dixon, Chris Preece and Kris Moodley considers the ethical dimension of engineering and ethical decision-making. Contents include: Why be ethical, or whose responsibility is it anyway?; The Foundation of Ethics; The Practice of Ethics; Ethical Codes; Business Ethics I; Business Ethics II; Environmental Ethics and Sustainability; Global Ethics. As a guide it is relevant to students, academics and practising engineers.
Author(s): Simon Robinson et al.
URL(s):
• http://textbooks.elsevier.com/web/product_details.aspx?isbn=9780…
Ethics and Engineering working group : Royal Academy of Engineering
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This is the web page for the Ethics & Engineering Working Group of The Royal Academy of Engineering. The group was set up during 2003 to give greater prominence to professional ethics. The Royal Academy of Engineering and the Engineering Professors' Council also have a Teaching of Engineering Ethics Group (TEEG). TEEG, formed in 2004, is a group of 15 academics active in the teaching of engineering ethics. It has set itself the task of improving the provision of ethics teaching in UK engineering departments. Resources from TEEG will become available on this website.
Author(s): The Royal Academy of Engineering (Corporate Author)
URL(s):
• http://www.raeng.org.uk/policy/ethics/default.htm
Ethics matters : managing ethical issues in Higher Education
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This is a resource described on the CIHE website. 'Ethics Matters' is a practical guide designed to help UK universities and colleges address ethical issues across their organisations. It sets out to raise questions, encourage debate and make suggestions on how higher education institutions might develop their own approach to ethical matters.
Author(s): CIHE (Corporate Author)
URL(s):
• http://www.cihe.co.uk/category/knowledge/publications/
French engineers : engineering ethics case study project
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This is an Engineering Ethics case study from the IDEA CETL. The scenario examines the problem of what to do when encountering unacceptable behaviour (drinking during work hours) while working abroad. It raises issues such as moral relativism; safety and risk; whistleblowing and professionalism. The case study is aimed at students who have not studied ethics before. The teaching format is a one hour session with small group discussions.
Author(s): Dr Heather Fotheringham
URL(s):
• http://www.engsc.ac.uk/downloads/scholarart/ethics/frenchenginee…
How do values underpin professionalism? An approach to explore values in education and practice [ebook chapter]
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This ebook chapter by Caroline Baillie, Yamun Nahar, George Catalano and Eric Feinblatt - How do values underpin professionalism? An approach to explore values in education and practice - forms part of
'Learning to be Professional through a Higher Education'. It considers an emerging pathway towards a methodology for mapping engineering
values.
Author(s): Caroline Baillie et al.
URL(s):
• http://learningtobeprofessional.pbworks.com/How-do-values-underp…
Inter-Disciplinary Ethics Applied : a Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning
Other title: IDEA CETL
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This is the website of the Inter-disciplinary Ethics Applied Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (IDEA CETL). This CETL was awarded to the University of Leeds to integrate inter-disciplinary ethics into the curricula of 14 disciplines at the University, and facilitate further development across the UK and beyond. The Centre will be collaborating with the Engineering Subject Centre during its first year to support the teaching of ethics to engineers.
URL(s):
• http://www.idea.leeds.ac.uk/
Noise at work : engineering ethics case study project
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This is an Engineering Ethics case study from the IDEA CETL. The scenario examines the issues surrounding health and safety in the workplace in relation to noise pollution. It raises issues such as confidentiality; employer-employee relations; safety and risk. The case study is aimed at students who have been taught some ethics before. The teaching format is a two hour session with small group discussions. By the end of the session students will understand that:
. Employers have a legal duty of care to consider the health risks that their employers are exposed to
. Employees have a duty
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Author(s): Dr Heather Fotheringham, Jane Stone, Sayeed Khan
URL(s):
• http://www.engsc.ac.uk/downloads/scholarart/ethics/noiseatwork.p…
Revenue vs. customer satisfaction : engineering ethics case study project
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This is an Engineering Ethics case study from the IDEA CETL. It examines a dilemma between providing the best product for a customer and maximising profit for a company. It is aimed at students who have studied some ethics before and is a good introduction to ethical issues arising in business. The teaching format is 1- 2 hours, small group discussions.
Author(s): Dr Heather Fotheringham
URL(s):
• http://www.engsc.ac.uk/downloads/scholarart/ethics/revenue-vs-cu…
Royal Academy of Engineering : statement of ethical principles
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This is a pdf of the Royal Academy of Engineering's revised and updated Statement of Ethical Principles (June 2007). The Royal Academy of Engineering, in collaboration with Engineering Council (UK) and a number of the leading professional engineering institutions, created a Statement of Ethical Principles to which it believes all professional engineers and related bodies should subscribe.
Author(s): The Royal Academy of Engineering (Corporate Author)
URL(s):
• http://www.raeng.org.uk/societygov/engineeringethics/pdf/Stateme…
Safety measures : engineering ethics case study project
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This is an Engineering Ethics case study from the IDEA CETL. It concerns the obligations that a company may have to implement safety measures, even when this is not dictated by the letter of the law. It raises issues such as safety and risk, and duty to obey the law. The case study is aimed at students who have done some ethics before. It can be integrated into any module where safety is considered, but would be particularly suited to modules where chemical processing plants are studied. The teaching format is a one hour session with small group discussions.
Author(s): Dr Heather Fotheringham
URL(s):
• http://www.engsc.ac.uk/downloads/scholarart/ethics/safetymeasure…
Smith & Brown : engineering ethics case study project
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This is an Engineering Ethics case study from the IDEA CETL. It examines issues around the intellectual property of a joint project and subsequent research. The case study is aimed at students who have not studied ethics before. The teaching format is a one hour session with small group discussions.
Author(s): Dr Heather Fotheringham, Prof. Ian Howard
URL(s):
• http://www.engsc.ac.uk/downloads/scholarart/ethics/smithandbrown…
Spectrum allocation : engineering ethics case study project
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This is an Engineering Ethics case study from the IDEA CETL. The scenario examines the ethical issues surrounding the allocation of the radio spectrum to different services benefiting different groups of users. It is aimed at students who have some experience of ethics. The teaching Format is a 1-2 hour session, presentations and small group discussions.
Author(s): Dr Heather Fotheringham
URL(s):
• http://www.engsc.ac.uk/downloads/scholarart/ethics/spectrum-allo…
Sustainability versus heritage : engineering ethics case study project
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This is an Engineering Ethics case study from the IDEA CETL. It examines the case of a conflict between environmental issues (using sustainable timber) and protecting heritage (replacing like with like in a listed building). It raises issues such as heritage; sustainability; environment and culpable ignorance. The teaching format is a two hour session with small group discussions.
Author(s): Dr Heather Fotheringham, Rob Lawlor, Anon.
URL(s):
• http://www.engsc.ac.uk/downloads/scholarart/ethics/heritage.pdf
The decision makers : ethics for engineers
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This book examines the issues involved in making engineering decisions. Such decisions may affect local and global quality of life. Engineering ethics involves concepts of duty and responsibility, with engineers needing to understand the decisions that they are required to make, and which decisions are likely to produce the most favourable short and long term outcomes.
Author(s): James Armstrong
URL(s):
• http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/072772598X/qid%3D114070…
The Online Ethics Center : National Academy of Engineering
Other title: Onlineethics.org
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This is the Engineering Practice section of the Online Ethics Center (OEC) website. It contains cases, discussions, resources and ethical guidelines relating to the professional responsibilities of engineers and covers a range of engineering disciplines.
URL(s):
• http://www.onlineethics.org/CMS/profpractice.aspx
Transmission towers : engineering ethics case study project
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This is an Engineering Ethics case study from the IDEA CETL. It examines the moral issues surrounding a disagreement with a boss at work concerning the safety of a transmission tower. It considers safety and risk and whistleblowing. The session is suitable for beginners and students with some experience of ethics teaching. The teaching format is a one or two hour session with small group discussions.
Author(s): Dr Heather Fotheringham
URL(s):
• http://www.engsc.ac.uk/downloads/scholarart/ethics/transmissiont…
