Integration of Professional Responsibility & Ethics in Engineering Education

These projects and programs seek to build a foundation for the incorporation of professional responsibility into the engineering curriculum.  The Chair of Free Enterprise is involved in the creation and sponsorship of many ethics related learning initiatives and programs. These projects and programs seek to build a foundation for the incorporation of professional responsibility into the engineering curriculum.

• The Faculty Innovation Center (FIC) has developed online information resources regarding professional responsibility for engineers. These resources include such topics as Morals vs. Professional Ethics and The Role of the Engineer in Society.

• Dr. Kenneth Diller with the Biomedical Engineering department was given an academic development grant for his project entitled "Topics of Professional Responsibility." This project led to the creation of a series of learning modules that highlight the integration of professional responsibility and ethics into the curriculum. The College now offers a series of lessons in modular format. These flexible instructional materials are for use by students and faculty.

• The University of Texas Ethics Conference was held on April 15-17, 2004. The purpose of The University of Texas Ethics Conference was to engage the academic and public communities in an increasing awareness of the need and resources for ethics instruction and ethical living in the complexity of our times.

• Dr. Harovel G. Wheat has also been given an academic development grant to fund her efforts in "Integrating Technology Innovation and Creativity, Professional Responsibility, and Leadership into the Undergraduate Educational Experience."

• PRIME: Professional Responsibility Modules for Engineering is an endeavor to foster leadership skills and a clear understanding of professional responsibility in engineering practice. The overall goal of the project is to compile and develop web-based teaching materials that address the topics of leadership, information ethics, and professional responsibility. The first modules are in pilot use in Engineering Communications courses and should be ready for adoption in the fall of 2005.

• The engineering ethics case study videos Gilbane Gold and Incident at Morales are available for viewing online. (UT EID required) They were developed by the National Institute for Engineering Ethics (NIEE) with support from the National Society for Professional Engineers and the National Science Foundation. Synopses and study guides are available on the NIEE website.