Analysis of professional ethics in Engineering Degrees

Abstract

The role of engineering is closely related to its role in society. An engineer may be involved in supervising the work of a team;
in negotiations; and always may have special responsibilities to ensure that work is safe, and to ensure it is not damaging the
environment. We have analyzed the specific case of ethics in some engineering degrees. In our country, in recent years, the
White Books of qualifications for Bachelor’s Degrees of the industrial branches, possesses a mention to delivery an optional
subject related to ethics and the acquisition of the competence of an ethical and moral responsibility. In the case of the
School of Industrial Engineering at the University of Salamanca (Spain), this competence is not included as a subject in the
definition of the degrees. Ethical responsibility is included in the same group of transversal competences as teamwork or
critical reasoning. We have conducted a survey about ethics to different engineering students to get their feedback about the
importance of ethical behavior, the ethics and professional responsibility, or the necessity of the associations of engineers
(after they finish their studies).
Keywords: Engineering education, ethics, competences.