Ethical skills needed by engineers to face future's challenges

Abstract

Engineering practice has a high impact on contemporary society. The international scientific publication recognizes a broad consensus on the need to incorporate ethical education in engineering courses as essential. It is also noted that the way to incorporate and promote it, as well as the skills to be acquired, is not consensual, this being an area with a research deficit, especially on the skills to be acquired. In view of this, the present study aims to investigate what ethics skills are required for engineering graduates in the face of the challenges of the future. To this end, it was considered necessary to identify which ethical competences are necessary for engineering graduates recognized in scientific research in the area. The competences identified have the common point of helping to face and find ethical and responsible solutions to the challenge of sustainability. But there is also a strong focus on promoting professional and ethical responsibility, understanding the role of engineering in society and raising awareness of the negative consequences of technology.