Ethical Leadership and Management Symposium (5cr)

Learning outcomes

The student is able:
• to reflect and develop her/his identity and performance as an ethical leader
• to manage cross-cultural partnerships and working societies
• to lead ethically sustainable transitions in multiprofessional contexts
• to enhance ethical aspects in research and development
• to promote and guide ethical dialogue in working society

Teaching methods

The student is able:
• to reflect and develop one’s identity and performance as an ethical leader
• to lead cross-cultural partnerships and working societies in an ethically sustainable manner
• to enhance ethical approach in research and development settings
• to promote and guide ethical dialogue in professional encountering

Content:
• self-reflection of one’s leadership skills
• ethical and moral leadership
• ethics of corporate social responsibility
• conflict management in an ethical environment
• ethical dimensions of research and development

A Canvas learning environment is used to support the implementation. The study unit includes scheduled teaching and guidance both on campus. The study unit includes working in pairs or groups. You will receive individual feedback for assignments from the teacher, and working life or peer feedback may also be utilised.

Time and location

The ethical leadership symposium takes place in Tikkurila campus 22-24th of October 2025.

Learning materials and recommended literature

American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) 2025. Healthcare Executive Competencies Assessment Tool. https://www.ache.org/-/media/ache/career-resource-center/cat-competencies-assessment-tool.pdf

ALLEA (2023) The European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity – Revised Edition 2023. Berlin. DOI 10.26356/ECOC Viitattu 14.10.2023.

Beauchamp, T.L. and Childress, J. E. 2019. Principles of Biomedical Ethics. 8th Edition. Oxford University Press. Brito Salas, Kelly & Avento, Roseanna. 2023. Ethical Guidelines for Responsible Partnerships with the Global South" http://hdl.handle.net/10138/566406

Childress, J.F-, Faden, R.R., Gaare, R.D., Gostin, L.O., Kahn, J., Bonnie, R.J., Kass, N.E., Mastroianni, A.C., Moreno, J.D. & Nieburg, P. 2002. Public health ethics: mapping the terrain. J Law Med Ethics. 2002 Summer;30(2):170-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-720x.2002.tb00384.x. PMID: 12066595. Accessed 9 May 2025.

International Organization for Standardization, 2018. ISO 26000 - Social responsibility. https://www.iso.org/iso-26000-social-responsibility.html

Kass, N.E. 2001 An Ethics Framework for Public Health, Am J Pu https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1446875/pdf/0911776.pdfblic Health, 91: 1776-1782 Accessed 9 May 2025.

Saxén, Salla. 2021. Ethics in Professional Discourse. An exploration of moral uncertainty and the diversity of ethics in healthcare professions. Kuopio: Itä-Suomen yliopisto, 2021. Publications of the University of Eastern Finland. Dissertations in Social Sciences and Business Studies; 247 https://erepo.uef.fi/bitstream/handle/123456789/25093/16213177421817247763.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y Accessed 9 May 2025. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Table of Contents (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy) Accessed 9 May 2025. Accessed 9 May 2025.

Svanberg, M.K., Svanberg, C.F.C. 2021. Is there Such a Thing as a Good Profit? Taking Conventional Ethics Seriously. Philosophia. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11406-020-00310-6 Accessed 9 May 2025.

Svanberg, Maria K. 2021 Business and Ethics? A Study of a Dichotomy. https://aaltodoc.aalto.fi/server/api/core/bitstreams/eee273ce-dfe7-4a94-9f49-407870324c8c/content Accessed 9 May 2025. World Health Organisation. 2011. Standards and Operational Guidance for Ethics Review of Health-Related Research with Human Participants. http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/44783/1/9789241502948_eng.pdf?ua=1&ua=1 Accessed 9 May 2025. World Medical Association (WMA) 2024. WMA Declaration of Helsinki – Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Participants – WMA – The World Medical Association Accessed 29 April 2025.

Some more suggestions as relevant articles introduced by the speakers.

Alternative completion methods of implementation

N/A

Co-operation with working life and/or RDI

This study unit is connected on Laurea's previous and current externally funded EU-level projects on ethics.

Important dates

The ethical leadership symposium takes place in Tikkurila campus 22-24th of October 2025.

Forms of internationality

During this study unit you will have the possibility to meet international experts and student colleagues across Europe to discuss current ethical leadership challenges.

Student workload

Ethical Leadership -Symposium (5 ECTS = 135 hrs):

Pre-assignment 1 (1 ECTS= 27 hrs): Start writing your Learning Diary (LD) by self-evaluating your competences (knowledge, attitudes and skills) as a future leader encountering people in sensitive and ethically challenging situation. Select the workshops you are going to participate and use the given articles to familiarize the topic. Return your pre-assignment, the current version of your LD by 13th October 8 A.M. EET 2025 into the Canvas return box. Workshops require a binding pre-enrolment. Follow the instructions given in the Canvas.

Assignment 2 (1 ECTS = 27 hrs): Participation in ELM-symposium 22nd - 24th October 2025.

Written assignment 3 (3 ECTS= 81 hrs): Learning Diary of minimum 2000 and maximum 3000 words. Continue writing your LD in your pre-assignment document by 1) reflect how you have enhanced your competences as a future leader 2) a case study reflecting solutions for encountering people in sensitive and challenging ethical situation.

Further information

The study unit corresponds to the requirements of Master EQF-7 level education.

Evaluation scale

H-5

Evaluation methods and criteria

This study unit follows The Laurea's competence evaluation at EQF-7 level.

All staff and students of Laurea are expected to adhere to good scientific practices, which includes appropriate referencing. Familiarise yourself with the practices and, if needed, ask for more information. All study assignments are to be done as individual work unless otherwise instructed.

Assessment criteria, fail (0)

“Students who have failed to demonstrate their competence in accordance with the approved level must supplement or retake their study attainment in a manner and schedule defined by the teacher of the study unit. If the student does not pass the assessment despite the opportunity to complete their study attainment, they must complete the study unit in question in full as specified by the teacher.” (Degree regulations 2024.)

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

To achieve grade 1 (satisfactory) the student is able to:

- create a justified knowledge base on the subject using research sources (e.g. non-peer-reviewed scientific texts). (Knowledge base)
- apply the knowledge base to various professional contexts. (Knowledge base)
- pose essential questions about the topic under consideration.(Knowledge base)
- develop well-founded solutions to development problems. (Development)
- act in development tasks. (Development)
- examine issues openly from different perspectives and design functional solutions based on existing knowledge. (Creativity)
- communicate clearly both orally and in writing. (Communication)
- utilise means of communication. (Communication)
- demonstrate organisational skills in their own activities according to schedules. (Working skills, responsibility and independence)
- demonstrate responsibility, independence, and ethics in their actions. (Working skills, responsibility and independence)
- operate in uncertain situations (Working skills, responsibility and independence)
- work with others (Working skills, responsibility and independence)

Assessment criteria, good (3-4)

To achieve grade 3 (good) the student is able to:

- create an essential knowledge base by analysing both domestic and international scientific sources. (Knowledge base)
- apply the knowledge base to various professional contexts, demonstrating independent thinking. (Knowledge base)
- reflect on critical questions related to the knowledge base.(Knowledge base)
- develop well-founded solutions to research, development, and/or innovation problems using a development process model or method.(Development)
- act as a developer in development tasks requiring complex and new approaches.(Development)
- evaluate issues openly from different perspectives and build something original and functional based on existing knowledge. (Creativity)
- communicate expertly both orally and in writing. (Communication)
- utilise various means of communication effectively. (Communication)
- apply knowledge and skills demonstrating responsibility and independence. (Working skills, responsibility and independence)
- produce solutions that demonstrate responsibility and ethics. (Working skills, responsibility and independence)
- plan and execute work according to schedules. (Working skills, responsibility and independence)
- act independently in situations requiring tolerance to uncertainty. (Working skills, responsibility and independence)
- work constructively in collaboration with others. (Working skills, responsibility and independence)

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

To achieve grade 5 (excellent) the student is able to:

- create a coherent knowledge base by utilising both domestic and international sources comprehensively. (Knowledge base)
- critically analyse current and relevant scientific sources. (Knowledge base)
- apply the knowledge base to various professional contexts with critical thinking. (Knowledge base)
- highlight relevant and critical perspectives related to the knowledge base.(Knowledge base)
- develop new, well-founded solutions to complex research, development, and/or innovation problems using an appropriate development process model or method. (Development)- act as a developer in development tasks that are complex, unpredictable, and/or require new strategic approaches. (Development)
- evaluate issues openly and boldly from multiple perspectives and build new, innovative, and functional viewpoints based on existing knowledge. (Creativity)
- communicate convincingly both orally and in writing, considering the audience. (Communication)
- utilise creative means of communication. (Communication)
- apply knowledge and skills responsibly and independently. (Working skills, responsibility and independence)
- produce solutions that reflect responsibility and ethics.(Working skills, responsibility and independence)
- organise and manage their own activities. (Working skills, responsibility and independence)
- plan and schedule work systematically. (Working skills, responsibility and independence)
- show tolerance for uncertainty and the ability to overcome challenges independently and justifiably. (Working skills, responsibility and independence)
- work constructively and purposefully in collaboration with others. (Working skills, responsibility and independence)