In conjunction with the Ethics CETL at the University of Leeds and engCETL at Loughborough University, the Engineering Subject Centre is supporting a one-year project to develop a database of case studies to assist with teaching ethics to engineering students.
The importance of ethics in the engineering curriculum has been brought to the fore over the last 12 months following the development of a Statement of Ethical Principles and the publication of an ethics curriculum map by Royal Academy of Engineering.
Case studies are an extremely effective tool for the teaching of ethics: by getting students to engage with scenarios that they are likely to encounter as professional engineers they are forced to confront and question their own opinions, and justify their actions.
The recently appointed Case Studies Development Officer, Dr Heather Fotheringham, is keen to hear from companies who have faced and resolved a difficult ethical problem. You need only provide the "scenario", and Dr Fotheringham will write this up into a full case study for engineering students, including study questions. Your contribution will of course be anonymous.
Contact Dr Fotheringham for further information..
Text added 18 January 2007