Teaching of Professional Ethics in Engineering Design

Abstract Engineering has a direct impact on humanity and knowing the ethical aspects becomes essential. The study of ethics makes engineers more empathic and human, and also more aware of their responsibility as engineers. Despite progress in the industrial ethics program, there still remains a lot to be done in teaching ethics to students. This paper presents the integration of ethical, social and economic considerations in developing design solutions to meet human needs. The materials on Ethics are integrated at each stage of the design development process. Students are introduced to codes of ethics which companies have developed to assist engineers in answering questions which may arise in their profession. Case studies, specifically relevant in engineering design and product development situations are presented. Guidelines are used to separate known facts and assumptions while reaching solutions in Ethics cases. The responsibility of engineers towards their employers and issues of their personal conscience are explained through examples.