Course in Ethics in Military Innovation in Universities
Online 300 h course in ethics in military innovation in universities. 6 modules covering Regulation (EU) 2021/821 (control of dual-use items), Regulation (EU) 2021/695 (Horizon Europe Framework Programme) and Zotero. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Course in Ethics in Military Innovation in Universities — 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: €644 (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
Analyse the role of the university in defence-related research.
Apply export control to university research activity.
Design ethical review procedures for sensitive projects.
Evaluate the implications of funding and intellectual property in defence.
Integrate the principles of responsible research and innovation.
Debate academic freedom versus security restrictions.
Draft a university policy on defence research.
Who it's for
- Research project managers who wish to specialise in Ethics in Military Innovation in Universities.
- Research ethics committee officers who wish to specialise in Ethics in Military Innovation in Universities.
- Export compliance officers who wish to specialise in Ethics in Military Innovation in Universities.
- Technology transfer officers who wish to specialise in Ethics in Military Innovation in Universities.
- Science policy advisers who wish to specialise in Ethics in Military Innovation in Universities.
- Researchers in science and technology studies who wish to specialise in Ethics in Military Innovation in Universities.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter universities.
What you'll work with
- Regulation (EU) 2021/821 (control of dual-use items)
- Regulation (EU) 2021/695 (Horizon Europe Framework Programme)
- Regulation (EU) 2021/697 (European Defence Fund)
- European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity (ALLEA)
- Recommendation (EU) 2021/1700 (compliance in dual-use research)
- Law 14/2011 on Science, Technology and Innovation
- Law 24/2015 on Patents
6 modules · 300 h
1.1History of military research in universities1.2Open science versus classified research1.3Academic freedom and university autonomy1.4Peace clauses and institutional declarations1.5Technology readiness levels (TRL) and transfer1.6European Defence Fund: Regulation (EU) 2021/6971.7Horizon Europe and the civil applications requirement1.8COINCIDENTE programmes and the Spanish R&D ecosystem1.9Positions of the scientific community1.10Case study: debate on a university–defence agreement
2.1The concept of dual use in science and engineering2.2Regulation (EU) 2021/821 on dual-use items2.3Intangible technology transfer and publications2.4Exception for basic scientific research2.5Wassenaar Arrangement and multilateral regimes2.6Law 53/2007 on foreign trade in defence materiel2.7Foreign researchers and access control2.8Internal compliance programmes in universities2.9Classifying a technology under control lists2.10Practical exercise: classifying a project using Annex I of the regulation
3.1Ethics self-assessment for the European Defence Fund3.2University research ethics committees3.3Legal review of new weapons: Article 36 of Additional Protocol I3.4Dual-use research of concern (DURC)3.5Human participants in trials and consent3.6Data protection in defence projects (RGPD)3.7Misuse risk assessment3.8Technology foresight and responsible assessment3.9Research integrity and the European Code of Conduct (ALLEA)3.10Workshop: completing an ethics self-assessment form
4.1Intellectual property rights in defence contracts4.2Secret patents and Law 24/2015 on patents4.3Consortium and confidentiality agreements4.4University spin-offs with defence clients4.5Researchers' conflicts of interest4.6Private funding and industry dependence4.7Delayed publication and contractual restrictions4.8Transparency in research funding4.9Transfer models: licensing and joint ownership4.10Case study: negotiating a consortium agreement
5.1RRI framework: anticipation, reflection, inclusion and responsiveness5.2Student participation and conscientious objection5.3Dialogue with civil society and the university community5.4Emerging technologies: AI, autonomy and biotechnology5.5NATO principles for the responsible use of AI5.6Impact on institutional reputation5.7Indicators of responsible innovation5.8International experiences: MIT, Oxford and TU Delft5.9Managing controversies on campus5.10Workshop: institutional protocol for defence research
6.1Choosing a university and its context6.2Inventory of defence projects and funding6.3Analysis of ethical and compliance risks6.4Consultation with campus stakeholders6.5Drafting the institutional policy6.6Design of the committee and review procedure6.7Training plan for researchers6.8Monitoring and transparency indicators6.9Report and presentation6.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
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 possible to combine study with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Zotero, Advanced Excel, NVivo, Microsoft Project, in free, academic or evaluation versions. The case studies draw on real procedures: simulated ethical reviews of projects, analysis of defence funding calls and drafting of university policies. Assessment is continuous, module 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.
Analyse the role of the university in defence-related research.
Apply export control to university research activity.
Design ethical review procedures for sensitive projects.
Evaluate the implications of funding and intellectual property in defence.
Integrate the principles of responsible research and innovation.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient Spanish 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 between 10 and 15 hours a week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
The course uses Zotero, Advanced Excel, NVivo and Microsoft Project. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma 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 can be recognised in the advanced programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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