Course on the Ethics of Replacing Humans with Robots
Online course of 300 h in the Ethics of Replacing Humans with Robots. 6 modules covering ISO 10218-1 and 10218-2 (safety of industrial robots), Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 (machinery) and ROS 2. Dedicated tutor and enrolment open.
Course on the Ethics of Replacing Humans with Robots — studying from Ireland
Ireland has no nuclear power generation, and its nuclear engagement is centred on radiation protection, research, medical applications and international policy. The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, now part of the Environmental Protection Agency, regulates radiation sources and monitors radiation exposure. Engineers and scientists in this area typically work in research, healthcare, environmental monitoring, decommissioning oversight and nuclear safeguards. Professional standards and expertise are coordinated through national and international bodies, with Ireland participating in European and international nuclear safety frameworks.
Fees for Ireland: €546 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Ireland
Typical roles
Questions from Ireland
Is Ireland a country with a nuclear power industry, and how is nuclear engineering professionally recognised here?
Ireland has no operating nuclear power plants, so nuclear engineering careers here are mainly in regulation, research, decommissioning oversight and international projects. The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland is the national regulator for radiation protection. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by this or any national body, so recognition depends on employers or the relevant body.
How might employers in Ireland view this training for nuclear-related roles?
Given Ireland's limited domestic nuclear industry, relevant roles are often with regulators, research institutions or multinational employers. Those employers decide how much weight to give a private online qualification and will usually look for specific radiation protection or regulatory credentials. There is no guarantee of any role or outcome.
What should I consider about workload and language before enrolling?
The programme is fully online and taught in English, so you can study from Ireland at your own pace. Study durations are 300, 800 or 1,900 hours depending on the course, so plan your time carefully. Fees can be paid in instalments, employer sponsorship is possible, and an assigned technical tutor supports your progress.
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 state of work robotisation in the nuclear sector.
Analyse the ethical arguments on replacing human work with robots.
Evaluate the labour and social impacts of automation.
Relate robotisation to dose reduction and the ALARA principle.
Identify the risk of loss of knowledge and skills.
Propose governance mechanisms for a just labour transition.
Draw up a responsible transition plan towards robotisation.
Who it's for
- Nuclear robotics engineer looking to specialise in the Ethics of Replacing Humans with Robots.
- Occupational health and safety technician looking to specialise in the Ethics of Replacing Humans with Robots.
- Human resources manager in the energy sector looking to specialise in the Ethics of Replacing Humans with Robots.
- Digital transformation consultant looking to specialise in the Ethics of Replacing Humans with Robots.
- Automation project manager looking to specialise in the Ethics of Replacing Humans with Robots.
- Trade union safety representative looking to specialise in the Ethics of Replacing Humans with Robots.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into nuclear power generation.
What you'll work with
- ISO 10218-1 and 10218-2 (safety of industrial robots)
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 (machinery)
- BS 8611:2016 (guide to the ethical design of robots)
- ISO/TS 15066 (collaborative robots)
- ILO Convention 155 (occupational safety and health)
- Directive 89/391/EEC (occupational safety and health framework)
- Directive 2013/59/Euratom (basic safety standards)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Candidate tasks: dirty, dangerous and repetitive1.2Occupational dose and the limits of Directive 2013/59/Euratom1.3Robotisation in decommissioning and waste management1.4Automated in-service inspection1.5Remote maintenance at ITER1.6The economics of substitution: costs and productivity1.7History of industrial automation1.8Theories on technology and employment1.9Employment data in the nuclear sector1.10Case study: robotising waste characterisation
2.1The value of work and human dignity2.2Utilitarianism versus deontology in substitution2.3Risk reduction as an ethical imperative2.4The duty to protect versus the right to work2.5Deskilling and loss of tacit knowledge2.6Distributive justice in the benefits of automation2.7The ethics of care and labour relations2.8The capabilities approach applied to employment2.9Corporate social responsibility2.10Workshop: debate on replacing a job role
3.1Job displacement and transformation3.2New profiles: teleoperator and robotics technician3.3Communities dependent on nuclear facilities3.4Impact on the local economy3.5Gender and age gaps in the transition3.6Mental health and meaningful work3.7Trade unions and collective bargaining3.8Just transition in the energy sector3.9Loss of organisational memory3.10Practice: labour impact analysis of a robotics project
4.1New risks introduced by robots4.2Human supervision and required competences4.3Tacit knowledge and how to capture it4.4Nuclear knowledge management according to the IAEA4.5Maintaining manual intervention capabilities4.6Organisational resilience to robotic failures4.7Training the workforce to work with robots4.8Ergonomics of teleoperation4.9Safety culture in hybrid teams4.10Case study: knowledge management plan
5.1Labour regulations and worker consultation5.2Social impact assessment of automation5.3Reskilling and training plans5.4Just transition public policies5.5European Globalisation Adjustment Fund5.6Responsible automation indicators5.7Worker participation in design5.8Internal communication of change5.9Corporate ethics committees5.10Workshop: reskilling plan for a workforce
6.1Selecting the task or facility6.2Dose and benefit analysis of robotisation6.3Labour impact assessment6.4Ethical analysis of alternatives6.5Reskilling and knowledge management plan6.6Governance and participation measures6.7Monitoring indicators6.8Summary of conclusions6.9Report and presentation6.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable materials, recorded classes and a dedicated technical tutor. No fixed timetable: students progress at their own pace within the intake period, making it easy to combine with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standards and applied exercises. The software used is ROS 2, RoboDK, Excel avanzado, NVivo, in free, academic or trial versions. Testing is studied through real procedures from analysis of jobs suitable for robotisation, labour impact assessment of an automation project, case studies of robotisation in decommissioning. Assessment is continuous for each module, plus a final capstone project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Describe the state of work robotisation in the nuclear sector.
Analyse the ethical arguments on replacing human work with robots.
Evaluate the labour and social impacts of automation.
Relate robotisation to dose reduction and the ALARA principle.
Identify the risk of loss of knowledge and skills.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No previous qualification is required.
- An internet connection and a computer able to run the programme software.
- A level of English sufficient to read technical standards.
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 ROS 2, RoboDK, Advanced Excel, NVivo. Free, academic or trial versions are used, and your tutor will point out a free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the capstone project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state-accredited degree.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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