Course in Ethics in Defence Social Responsibility
Online 300-hour course in ethics in defence social responsibility. 6 modules covering the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (2011), Directive (EU) 2022/2464 (CSRD, corporate sustainability reporting) and advanced Microsoft Excel. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Course in Ethics in Defence Social Responsibility — studying from South Africa
South Africa has a established defence industry centred on companies such as Denel and Paramount Group, with capabilities in land systems, armoured vehicles and munitions. The sector supports engineering roles in systems integration, vehicle design and test and evaluation. Defence procurement and export controls are overseen by government bodies, and the industry works closely with the South African National Defence Force. Engineers in this field typically combine mechanical, electrical and systems skills.
Fees for South Africa: R 12 000 (South African rand), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in South Africa
Typical roles
Questions from South Africa
Which South African bodies regulate or recognise defence and military engineering professionals?
Engineers in South Africa are registered through ECSA under the Engineering Profession Act, and defence programmes are guided by institutions such as the South African National Defence Force and Armscor, which set their own requirements. SEIUM is a private online institute, and its qualifications are not state degrees or accredited by a national body. Recognition is decided by these bodies and your employer, so confirm with them first.
Would this qualification help me find work in South Africa's defence or land systems sector?
South Africa has a defence industry with state-linked entities and private contractors, and employers usually require security clearances, relevant experience and recognised qualifications. A private online programme may support your application but does not guarantee employment or clearance. Check requirements with prospective employers, as roles in this sector can be sensitive and tightly controlled.
Can I study alongside a job, and are there funding options?
The course is 100% online and taught in English, so you need strong English, and no student visa is needed to study from home. Master's programmes are 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, each with an assigned technical tutor. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible, so ask whether your employer would fund part of the training.
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
Understand the scope of social responsibility in defence sector companies.
Apply the UN Guiding Principles to the value chain of a defence manufacturer.
Design a risk-proportionate human rights due diligence process.
Develop sustainability indicators in line with the GRI Standards and the CSRD.
Assess risks to people, workers and the environment associated with defence industrial activity.
Analyse governance dilemmas between confidentiality, national security and transparency.
Draft a comprehensive social responsibility plan for a defence organisation.
Who it's for
- Corporate social responsibility manager in defence who wants to specialise in Ethics in Defence Social Responsibility.
- Sustainability and ESG reporting analyst who wants to specialise in Ethics in Defence Social Responsibility.
- Human rights due diligence technician who wants to specialise in Ethics in Defence Social Responsibility.
- Compliance officer at a defence company who wants to specialise in Ethics in Defence Social Responsibility.
- Corporate governance consultant who wants to specialise in Ethics in Defence Social Responsibility.
- Non-financial information auditor who wants to specialise in Ethics in Defence Social Responsibility.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the defence industry.
What you'll work with
- UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (2011)
- Directive (EU) 2022/2464 (CSRD, corporate sustainability reporting)
- Directive (EU) 2024/1760 (corporate sustainability due diligence)
- ISO 26000 (social responsibility)
- OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises
- GRI Standards
- Arms Trade Treaty (2013)
- Law 11/2018 (non-financial information and diversity)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1What social responsibility means in this sector1.2Difference between compliance, reputation and responsibility1.3Stakeholders: State, employees, community and investors1.4Debate on the legitimacy of the business1.5Sustainable investment criteria and exclusions1.6Position of funds and banks1.7International reference frameworks1.8Corporate sustainability vocabulary1.9Information sources and their reliability1.10Exercise: stakeholder map of a company
2.1Guiding principles on business and human rights2.2Human rights due diligence2.3Identification of actual and potential impacts2.4Customer and end-use assessment2.5Supply chain and conflict minerals2.6Grievance and remedy mechanisms2.7European due diligence regulation2.8Liability for complicity2.9Relevant legal cases2.10Practice: due diligence assessment of an operation
3.1Health and safety at high-risk facilities3.2Handling hazardous materials3.3Working conditions and social dialogue3.4Diversity and talent management3.5Environmental impact of production3.6Waste and emissions management3.7Carbon footprint and decarbonisation3.8Circular economy in the sector3.9Relationship with the local community3.10Practice: social and environmental impact plan for a plant
4.1Sustainability report and its content4.2European sustainability reporting standards4.3Double materiality analysis4.4Indicators applicable to the sector4.5Taxonomy of sustainable investments and defence4.6External verification of information4.7Risk of image laundering4.8Honest and comparable communication4.9Dialogue with investors and analysts4.10Practice: defining the indicators of a report
5.1Board and risk oversight body5.2Ethics and sustainability committee5.3Customer and excluded countries policy5.4Remuneration linked to non-financial criteria5.5Responsible lobbying and transparency5.6Conflict between a public contract and personal criteria5.7Internal objection by employees5.8Communication during a reputational crisis5.9Periodic policy evaluation5.10Debate: rejecting a legal but controversial contract
6.1Choice of company and its activity6.2Map of stakeholders and impacts6.3Double materiality analysis6.4Human rights due diligence procedure6.5Social and environmental impact plan6.6Customer and governance policy6.7Indicators and report structure6.8Communication and dialogue plan6.9Proposal report6.10Project defence
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine the programme with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is advanced Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Power BI, NVivo, Miro, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Assessments are studied using real procedures for preparing sustainability reports, human rights impact assessments and materiality analyses with stakeholders. 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.
Understand the scope of social responsibility in defence sector companies.
Apply the UN Guiding Principles to the value chain of a defence manufacturer.
Design a risk-proportionate human rights due diligence process.
Develop sustainability indicators in line with the GRI Standards and the CSRD.
Assess risks to people, workers and the environment associated with defence industrial activity.
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 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 hours in total, spread over 3 to 5 months. That is an average of between 10 and 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
The course works with advanced Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Power BI, NVivo and Miro. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM 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 are credited towards the higher-level programme. Please consult the credit transfer policy when you enrol.
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