Engineering Ethics and Professional
Conduct (SOE 4161)
Module Overview
November 2019
Objectives of the Module
• To introduce students to various means of solving
professional problems and how to act and behave in a
professional and ethical manner.
• To equip students, focus mainly on issues of professional
conduct in relation to their various activities at their work
places.
• To enhance students’ ability to think and act more
responsibly as professionals.
• To make sure students be able to respect their duties and
their workmates at the same time increasing production.
Outcome of the Module
Having completed the Module students should be
able to:
• Know who is an engineer and what are his/her
main activities and responsibilities in relation to
his profession and attitude to work.
• Get acquainted with the history and purpose of
being ethical.
• Understand the relationship between employer
and his /her subordinates.
• Have amicable working relationship with
colleagues and any related party.
Outcome cont’d …
• Make decision on various problems in regard to
his/her duties in the shortest possible time
frame.
• Advise management on which line to follow in
trying to solve contractual and other disputes
which might arise at the place of work.
• Demonstrate the need of Confidentiality, Royalty,
Liability and various forms of corruption and how
they can be avoided .
• Assess various forms of contracts, how they are
formed, analysed, awarded and their follow up.
Module Outline (a)
Introduction to Engineering Ethics and
professionalism:
o What is engineering ethics?
o Why study engineering ethics?
o Engineering as a profession;
o Moral and ethical theories;
o Personal vs professional ethics;
o Moral dilemmas;
o Moral autonomy;
o Ethics and the law;
Introduction to Engineering Ethics
and Professionalism cont’d…
o Professional responsibility and liability;
o Confidentiality;
o Loyalty;
o Forms and scopes of corruption;
o Risk and moral responsibility;
o Rights of the profession and scope of
professional role in society.
Module Outline (b)
Codes of Ethics:
o History and purpose of ethics;
o Obligation of Engineer;
o Employer and subordinates;
o Relationship with other professions;
o Liability;
o Obligation of engineer;
o Employer and subordinates;
o Codes of ethics from other institutions.
Contract Basics:
o Forms of contracts;
o Formation of contract;
o Tendering procedure;
o Contracts which are not binding;
o Discharge of contracts;
o Legal disputes;
o Arbitration;
o Litigation;
Contract Basics Cont’d…
o Special contracts;
o Parties in the engineering and construction
industry;
o Partnership;
o Limited companies and other corporate Bodies;
o Trade and professional rules;
o Trade unions.
Module Outline (c)
Contract management for Building and
Engineering works
o Performance and payment;
o Variations;
o Certification and payment;
o Sub-contracts;
o Assignment;
o Insolvency;
o Bonds;
o Completion;
o Disputes.
Contract management for Building and
Engineering works Cont’d…
o ICE Conditions of contract;
o FIDIC;
o Conditions of contract;
o Preparation and award of tenders;
o Overview of relevant codes of conduct.
Assessment
Component Weight (%)
In-course assessment:
Assignment and report 20
CAT 30
Final assessment:
examination 50
Lecture Plan
Time table
Period (7th -31st ) January 2019
S/N Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
08:00- 11:00 CIV-G2 & CIV-G1 &2 CIV-G1 &2 SGE & WEE CIV-G2
1 AUD 4 AUD 4[U1] (11-13:00) P204
AUDI 2
AUDI 2
14:00-17:00 BCT & MEE SGE & WEE BCT & MEE
AUD 4[U2] P206 Room 5
Camp Kigali
References
• Mike W. Martin et al., (2010) Introduction to
Engineering Ethics, second edition, McGraw-Hill, a
business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.,
1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.
• Charles B. Fleddermann et al., (2008) Engineering
ethics, Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Prentice
Hall, 1 Lake Street, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
• Charles. Harris et al., (2005) Engineering ethics;
Concepts and Cases, Wadsworth, Cengage Learning,
USA
