PROFESSIONAL ETHICS AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN ENGINEERING
by
Engr. Dr. Y. A. Adediran, FNSE
Department of Electrical Engineering
University of Ilorin
INTRODUCTION
An engineer could be described as a professional who applies science (and mathematics)
to the optimum conversion of the resources of nature to the benefit of mankind. An
engineer is a professional whose basic satisfaction is in performing well tasks he/she has
been trained for and who always strives to achieve the best standard possible in any
circumstance. An engineer applies scientific (mathematics, chemistry, biology and
physics) and other specialized scientific courses.
Generally, engineers are involved in planning, design, construction, operation,
maintenance, research and development, consulting, manufacturing, quality control,
reliability and sales, just to mention a few. For being a professional, an engineer has
acquired a specialized body of knowledge received through a recognized training, and
should, in addition, be involved in continuous professional development. Most
importantly, an engineer should be covered by codes of ethics and standards of the
profession. Therefore, an engineer has some social responsibility to mankind and the
environment in which he/she practices hisher profession.
ENGINEERING CODES OF ETHICS
Tremendous progress in the areas of engineering, technology and science have resulted in
new technologies such as genetic engineering, nanotechnology, biotechnology and
artificial intelligence, all aided by information technology (IT). These developments have
led to the use of enormous amount of energy/power as well as social demand for higher
level of responsibility and accountability on the part of engineers. The challenges to
engineers today include collapse of buildings, natural disasters (e.g. earthquakes and
tsunami), chemical/nuclear radiation leakage (e.g. Chernobyl, Bhopal and most recently
the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan), plant explosion and fire incidents. In the face of
all these, it is primarily the social responsibility of engineers to the public by

Protecting people (public safety, health and well-being);

Creating a better working environment;

Being proud of their profession;

Reporting those who flout codes and standards;

Encouraging others to report non-compliance;

Preventing and reporting conflicting interests;

Building up positive confidence;

Being honest and of high integrity.
Other ethical issues include relationship with clients, competitors, contractors and
employers. The purpose of engineering ethics is therefore to increase the skill of moral
judgement and to develop the moral autonomy of the engineer.
ENGINEERING TRAINING IN ETHICS AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Engineering students have historically shown lukewarm attitude towards non-core
engineering courses such as engineering economics, history and philosophy of science,
and engineering management and law. These, and other social science courses, are taught
in order to make students, who would be future engineers, realize their social
responsibility to the public and their working environment. It is either these courses are
improperly taught, or are taught at wrong times. Probably our engineering curricula may
have to be redesigned by integrating relevant engineering ethics and social responsibility
in every engineering core course. For example, a course on electrical power generation
may incorporate issues such as the effect of the power plant on the ecosystem as well as
the likely consequences if such plant fails in any way. These must however be supported
by case studies (using video clips). Such approach may help the students to appreciate the
enormous socio-cultural responsibility awaiting them while practicing on the field. The
approach may also increase the students’ interest and retention in engineering.
CONCLUSION
Engineers are expected to be competent in their respective areas of specialization. It is
also important that such competence should be combined with good and acceptable codes
of ethics of the profession. It may therefore be necessary to integrate codes of ethics and
social responsibility issues in core engineering courses so that the students would be able
to appreciate the socio-cultural responsibility awaiting them after graduation.