Learning outcome

After successfully completing the course, the candidate will have achieved the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge

The candidate has knowledge of:

- Basic normative ethical theories

- Changes in society, culture and education that cast and reshape perspectives on ethics today

Skills:

The candidate can:

- Apply theories on ethics to moral evaluations and professional ethics

- Assess the relationship between professional ethics and trust, and how trust can be developed through systematic work on ethics in an organisation

- Analyse current and potential dilemmas and conflicts that exert pressure on professionals in the educational field

- Reflect critically in relation to loyalty, power and concerning reporting conditions that may cause offence or be illegal

- Reflect critically on his/her own ethical responsibility towards those being taught and supervised

- Reflect critically on the profession’s responsibility towards society and development of social conditions

General competence

The candidate:

- Has knowledge of and is able to relate critically and analytically to research within the field of professional ethics

- Can relate critically and analytically to political and administrative regulations affecting the education profession’s ethical responsibilities

Course Description

The course will focus on ethics in relation to responsibility and trust, the worth we attribute to individuals and groups of people and how to act in relation to others. The emphasis will primarily be on professional ethics and the ethics that is expressed through the exercise of a profession such as a teacher, school leader or leader of instruction in an organisation. These professionals often have their own professional ethical framework for their work, developed by the discipline or profession itself. This places high demands on awareness in relation to one’s own actions, and the ability to reflect on what is right or wrong when working in a professional role. This concerns particularly leaders who must ensure that professional ethical standards are developed and reflected in employees’ professional practices. Professional ethics also concerns people’s trust in the profession, and is therefore of vital importance in relation to the position of power and influence which is part of the professional role.

In schools and nurseries, this is a question of a double bond of trust. On the one hand, it concerns confidence in the relationship to the children and parents which must constantly be developed and maintained. On the other hand, it concerns the values​​, expectations and obligations specified in laws and curricula that the profession must be aware of and follow. An awareness of professional ethics is required in order to take all these considerations into account. The trust attributed to a profession or an organisation is often identified with the leader. Ethics has therefore become an important area of ​​competence in leadership. Globalisation has also brought this area of competence into focus due to increased interaction between different cultures and beliefs.

Teaching and Learning Methods

Lectures, seminars, and group work.

Assessment Methods

One course assignment must be approved before the student will be permitted to take the examination. The examination consists of writing an academic article, which is assessed with a graded mark that counts for 100% of the course grade.

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean