Course in Ethics in Academic Surveillance with ISR Systems
Online 300-hour course in ethics in academic surveillance with ISR systems. 6 modules covering the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity (ALLEA, 2023), Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR) and QGIS. Dedicated tutor and open enrolment.
Course in Ethics in Academic Surveillance with ISR Systems — studying from Australia
Defence is one of Australia's largest engineering employers, with major programmes in land systems, naval platforms, aircraft and integrated systems managed through the Department of Defence. Land systems engineering supports armoured vehicles, weapons and logistics equipment, often through prime contractors and local industry partners. Industry involvement is strongly encouraged through the Defence industry policy framework. Engineers work on sustainment, capability development, systems integration and safety assurance, typically in Canberra, Adelaide, Melbourne and regional defence precincts.
Fees for Australia: A$868 (AUD), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Australia
Typical roles
Questions from Australia
How does defence engineering recognition work in Australia?
Defence engineering in Australia is largely run through the Department of Defence and its industry partners, which set their own security clearance and qualification requirements. Engineers Australia is the professional body for accreditation. SEIUM's private qualifications are not accredited by these bodies, so recognition is for employers or the relevant body to decide.
Which Australian employers hire in defence and land systems?
Australia has defence prime contractors, the Department of Defence, and specialist land systems firms. Many of these roles require Australian security clearances, which depend on citizenship and background checks rather than course completion. Ask employers how they weigh private qualifications against experience and clearance requirements.
Is the course manageable with a job, and does it need a visa?
The programmes are 100% online and taught in English, so you can study from Australia without a student visa. Specialist courses take 300 hours, diplomas 800 and master's 1,900. An assigned technical tutor supports you, fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be possible.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Describe the ISR capabilities applicable to academic research.
Apply research ethics principles to projects involving remote sensors.
Explain the regulatory framework for data protection and drone operations.
Analyse humanitarian uses and the documentation of human rights violations.
Manage sensitive imagery and geolocation data responsibly.
Identify dual-use risks in research outcomes.
Prepare an ISR research protocol approved by an ethics committee.
Who it's for
- Remote sensing researcher who wants to specialise in Ethics in Academic Surveillance with ISR Systems.
- Research ethics committee member who wants to specialise in Ethics in Academic Surveillance with ISR Systems.
- Research data manager who wants to specialise in Ethics in Academic Surveillance with ISR Systems.
- Human rights imagery analyst who wants to specialise in Ethics in Academic Surveillance with ISR Systems.
- Drone operations technician who wants to specialise in Ethics in Academic Surveillance with ISR Systems.
- Humanitarian project coordinator who wants to specialise in Ethics in Academic Surveillance with ISR Systems.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter university and research.
What you'll work with
- European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity (ALLEA, 2023)
- Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR)
- Organic Law 3/2018 on Personal Data Protection and Guarantee of Digital Rights
- Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 (UAS operations)
- UN Resolution 41/65 (principles of remote sensing)
- Regulation (EU) 2021/821 (dual-use)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Concept of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance1.2Intelligence cycle1.3Electro-optical sensors, radar and SIGINT1.4Platforms: satellites, aircraft and drones1.5Processing, exploitation and dissemination1.6University research in sensors1.7Civil uses: environment and emergencies1.8Dual use of remote sensing techniques1.9Public and commercial data1.10Workshop: catalogue of dual-use ISR technologies
2.1Principles of the Belmont Report2.2Research ethics involving personal data2.3Consent in observational data2.4Geospatial privacy2.5Surveillance of vulnerable communities2.6Participatory research and communities2.7Re-identification risks2.8Ethics of publishing imagery2.9Responsibility for future applications2.10Case study: study using high-resolution imagery of settlements
3.1GDPR and research purposes (Art. 89)3.2Organic Law 3/2018 on data protection3.3Drone regulations: Regulation (EU) 2019/9473.4Resolution restrictions on commercial satellites3.5Export control of sensors (category 6)3.6Protection of critical infrastructure3.7Official secrets and classified information3.8Research ethics committees3.9Horizon Europe and ethical self-assessment3.10Practice: ethical self-assessment of a Horizon Europe project
4.1Documenting human rights violations4.2Forensic investigation with open sources4.3Berkeley Protocol on digital investigations4.4Monitoring conflicts and civilian damage4.5Disaster support: International Charter4.6Risks to sources and witnesses4.7Image verification and disinformation4.8Collaboration with NGOs and courts4.9Neutrality and researcher security4.10Case study: analysis of a published OSINT investigation
5.1Data management plans5.2FAIR principles and their ethical limits5.3Anonymisation of imagery and trajectories5.4Secure storage and access control5.5Licences and usage agreements5.6Responsible publication and embargoes5.7Privacy impact assessment5.8Data destruction and retention5.9Compliance auditing5.10Workshop: data management plan for an ISR project
6.1Formulating the research question6.2Selection of sensors and sources6.3Ethical risk analysis6.4Review of applicable regulations6.5Design of safeguards6.6Data management plan6.7Application to the ethics committee6.8Responsible dissemination plan6.9Report and presentation6.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Fully 100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it easy to combine with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is QGIS, Pix4D, ARX Data Anonymization Tool, Zotero, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work covers real procedures for designing research protocols with remote sensors, anonymising imagery and geospatial data, and case studies of humanitarian ISR use. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Describe the ISR capabilities applicable to academic research.
Apply research ethics principles to projects involving remote sensors.
Explain the regulatory framework for data protection and drone operations.
Analyse humanitarian uses and the documentation of human rights violations.
Manage sensitive imagery and geolocation data responsibly.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient Spanish level to follow technical regulatory reading.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 300 hours, spread over 3 to 5 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
You will work with QGIS, Pix4D, ARX Data Anonymization Tool, Zotero. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
An SEIUM own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. This is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area can be credited towards the advanced programme. Please check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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