The Engineering Council and Royal Academy of Engineering have published updated ethical guidance to “meet a new era of engineering challenges”.
Their joint Statement on Ethical Principles for the engineering profession updates a document first published more than 20 years ago, with publication timed to coincide with this week’s Chartered Week (which runs until 27 February).
The ILP is a licensed body of the Engineering Council, and therefore this update is important for members to be aware of.
“The refreshed Statement reflects the changing technology environment and the new challenges faced by engineering professionals today,” the two organisations said.
“The Statement considers developments in professional practice, in the wider technology environment, and in society’s expectations more broadly,” they added.
Importantly, a new fifth ethical principle has been added to the statement, focused on engineering professionals’ responsibility for the future of technology, society, and the environment – particularly in an era of fast-moving technological change.
“Rapidly developing technologies such as AI have potentially transformative impacts, and ethical issues arise in their development and adoption. This new principle highlights the duty of engineers and technicians to develop these technologies responsibly, with awareness of the lasting system consequences for humankind, including intergenerational impacts,” said the council and royal academy.
To that end, the new five ethical principles outlined are:
- Honesty and integrity. Or avoiding knowingly misleading others and taking steps to prevent corrupt practices, including plagiarism, misinformation and false representation.
- Responsibility to society. This includes reporting malpractice and irresponsible or unsafe practice, whether within the workplace or outside.
- Accuracy and rigour. This is about actively maintaining and enhancing knowledge, skills and competence and supporting others to do the same.
- Leadership and communication. This principle is about fostering a culture where concerns can be raised without fear of reprisal, and acting on well-founded concerns.
- Responsibility for the future of technology, society, and the environment. This, as referenced above, is about anticipating wider and emergent consequences, and potential for misuse of technologies, and applying precaution proportionately where potential harms are serious or irreversible.
The Engineering Council also produces guidance on security, sustainability, risk and whistleblowing. The complete Statement of Ethical Principles and related guidance are available on the Engineering Council Website.
Paul Bailey, CEO of the Engineering Council, said: “This updated Statement of Ethical Principles supports those working in the profession to meet our standards, ensuring that ethical practice keeps pace with technological change.
“The introduction of a new fifth principle acknowledges this evolution by highlighting technicians and engineers’ responsibility towards the future of technology and the long-term impacts of engineering on society and the environment.”
Dame Tamara Finkelstein, chief executive of the Royal Academy of Engineering, added: “Growing an engineering community fit for the future means providing engineers with the vision, principles and guidance to bring ethics into the heart of the profession and inspiring a new generation of engineers to work in ways that have meaningful, positive impact and that reinforces the trust society places in us.”
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