Course in Ethics in Defence Contracts
Online 300-hour course in ethics in defence contracts. 6 modules covering Directive 2009/81/EC (defence and security procurement), Law 24/2011 on public sector contracts in defence and security, and SAP Ariba. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Course in Ethics in Defence Contracts — studying from Ireland
Ireland maintains a small defence force, the Defence Forces, which operates its own engineering corps and equipment maintenance capabilities. Defence procurement and development are handled through the Department of Defence, while much of the wider defence-related industrial activity involves dual-use technologies, electronics and communications systems supplied by domestic and international firms. Engineers in this area typically work on land vehicle maintenance, military communications, protective equipment and systems integration. Policy and procurement are governed by national and European frameworks, including EU defence initiatives.
Fees for Ireland: €797 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Ireland
Typical roles
Questions from Ireland
Which Irish bodies oversee defence engineering and does a private qualification count?
Defence in Ireland is overseen by the Department of Defence, and the Defence Forces run their own training and technical structures. Engineers Ireland sets general professional engineering standards. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not state-awarded, and they are not accredited by any national body, so recognition for any defence-related role is decided by the relevant authority or employer.
Do Irish defence and land-systems employers hire people with private online qualifications?
Irish defence-related hiring is limited and often subject to security vetting and specific qualification requirements, so employers set their own criteria. A private online qualification may be taken into account alongside experience, but we cannot say how any employer will view it or guarantee any result. Check requirements for particular roles directly.
Can I study this from Ireland while working, and what is the workload?
Yes, the programme is 100% online and taught in English, so you can study from home without travel or a student visa. Master's programmes total 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 and specialist courses 300. Each student has an assigned technical tutor, fees can be paid in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be possible. Plan your weekly hours realistically around your job.
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
Identify the ethical tensions inherent in the lifecycle of a defence contract.
Apply the public procurement framework in defence and security.
Assess the technical accuracy of tenders and the definition of requirements.
Analyse risks of cost overruns, modifications and conflicts of interest.
Evaluate the integrity of quality and safety reports delivered to the client.
Design a compliance programme with a whistleblowing channel and anti-bribery controls.
Produce a comprehensive ethical analysis of a defence contract.
Who it's for
- Defence contract manager seeking to specialise in Ethics in defence contracts.
- Regulatory compliance officer seeking to specialise in Ethics in defence contracts.
- Cost and pricing analyst seeking to specialise in Ethics in defence contracts.
- Requirements engineer seeking to specialise in Ethics in defence contracts.
- Public procurement auditor seeking to specialise in Ethics in defence contracts.
- Programme manager seeking to specialise in Ethics in defence contracts.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the defence industry.
What you'll work with
- Directive 2009/81/EC (defence and security procurement)
- Law 24/2011 on public sector contracts in defence and security
- Law 9/2017 on Public Sector Contracts
- ISO 37001 (anti-bribery management systems)
- Law 2/2023 (protection of whistleblowers)
- AQAP 2110 (NATO quality assurance requirements)
- OECD Anti-Bribery Convention (1997)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Particularities of the public defence contract1.2Long timeframes, technical uncertainty and shared risk1.3Monopsony and mutual dependence1.4Information asymmetry between buyer and supplier1.5Public, industrial and professional interest1.6Contractual vocabulary of the sector1.7Stakeholders and their incentives1.8The most common sources of conflict1.9Known cases and how to read them1.10Exercise: identifying tensions in a real contract
2.1Requirements tailored to a particular supplier2.2Preliminary market consultation and its limits2.3Use of privileged information2.4Recklessly low bids and their strategy2.5Unsustainable technical commitments2.6Deliberate optimism on timelines and costs2.7Transparency on technological maturity2.8Alliances and market sharing2.9Honesty in the technical proposal2.10Practice: assessing the integrity of a tender
3.1Pricing models and risk allocation3.2Cost auditing and access to records3.3Overcharging and ineligible costs3.4Modifications as a means of recovering margin3.5Claims and their grounds3.6Transparency of whole-life cost3.7Supplier dependence in maintenance3.8Pricing of spare parts and support3.9Rescuing programmes in difficulty3.10Practice: analysing a controversial modification
4.1Falsification or manipulation of tests4.2Concealment of defects and incidents4.3Pressure on technicians to sign4.4Responsibility of the engineer and the verifier4.5Independence of the evaluating body4.6Component traceability and counterfeiting4.7Non-conforming components in the supply chain4.8Duty to inform the client4.9Consequences of concealing a defect4.10Debate: reporting or waiting when a defect is detected
5.1Compliance programme tailored to the contract5.2Due diligence on partners and subcontractors5.3Whistleblowing channel and whistleblower protection5.4Specific training for the project team5.5Oversight by the board of directors5.6Ethical clauses and their enforceability5.7Joint audit by client and supplier5.8Contract integrity indicators5.9Crisis management when things go wrong5.10Practice: designing the ethical framework of a contract
6.1Choice of contract and its subject matter6.2Map of stakeholders and incentives6.3Identification of dilemmas at each phase6.4Analysis of existing control mechanisms6.5Proposal of clauses and procedures6.6Protocol for responding to a defect6.7Whistleblowing channel and training plan6.8Monitoring indicators6.9Proposal report6.10Project defence
How you'll learn
100 % online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, allowing the programme to be combined with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is SAP Ariba, Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, Advanced Excel, Power BI, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Case studies draw on real procedures: analysis of procurement files, review of contract modifications and simulations of ethics committees. 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.
Identify the ethical tensions inherent in the lifecycle of a defence contract.
Apply the public procurement framework in defence and security.
Assess the technical accuracy of tenders and the definition of requirements.
Analyse risks of cost overruns, modifications and conflicts of interest.
Evaluate the integrity of quality and safety reports delivered to the client.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient command of Spanish to follow technical regulatory texts.
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 comprises 300 total hours spread over 3 to 5 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours a week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
You will work with SAP Ariba, Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, Advanced Excel and Power BI. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor will indicate a free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM diploma of your own upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are credited towards the advanced programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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