Course in Ethics Standards in University Defence Research
Online 300-hour course in ethics standards in university defence research. 6 modules covering Regulation (EU) 2021/821 (dual-use export control), Regulation (EU) 2021/697 (European Defence Fund) and Zotero. Personal tutor assigned and enrolment open.
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 research with defence applications.
Interpret the European and Spanish regulatory framework on dual-use and defence research.
Design how an ethics committee functions when reviewing sensitive projects.
Evaluate the ethical risks of a project at the proposal, execution and dissemination stages.
Protect the rights of researchers and students, including conscientious objection and academic freedom.
Draft an institutional policy with transparency and accountability mechanisms.
Write a reasoned ethical opinion on an integrative case.
Who it's for
- Technical secretary of a research ethics committee who wants to specialise in Ethics Standards in University Defence Research.
- Research compliance officer who wants to specialise in Ethics Standards in University Defence Research.
- R&D project manager in defence who wants to specialise in Ethics Standards in University Defence Research.
- Technology transfer office officer who wants to specialise in Ethics Standards in University Defence Research.
- Research integrity adviser who wants to specialise in Ethics Standards in University Defence Research.
- Researcher in technology ethics who wants to specialise in Ethics Standards in University Defence Research.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter universities and public research centres.
What you'll work with
- Regulation (EU) 2021/821 (dual-use export control)
- Regulation (EU) 2021/697 (European Defence Fund)
- European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity (ALLEA)
- Regulation (EU) 2021/695 (Horizon Europe)
- Law 14/2011 on Science, Technology and Innovation
- Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR)
- Law 53/2007 on the control of foreign trade in defence and dual-use materials
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Defence-funded research in the university1.2Civil, military and dual-use research1.3Academic freedom and its self-imposed limits1.4The public mission of the university1.5History of the relationship between academia and defence1.6Institutional positions in different countries1.7Internal debate within university communities1.8Vocabulary of dual use and technology control1.9Sources and reference documents1.10Exercise: mapping the funding of a centre
2.1University statutes and internal regulations2.2Science law and funding frameworks2.3European programmes and their ethical clauses2.4Export control applied to knowledge2.5Intangible transfers and publications2.6Regulations on the security of classified information2.7Data protection in security projects2.8Research integrity standards2.9Funding declaration obligations2.10Practice: mapping the obligations of a project
3.1Composition and powers of the committee3.2Criteria for accepting and rejecting a project3.3Analysis of foreseeable and misuse scenarios3.4Risk assessment for third parties3.5Binding and non-binding opinions3.6Appeals against an opinion3.7Monitoring of the approved project3.8Transparency of decisions3.9Difficult cases and internal case law3.10Practice: issuing a reasoned opinion
4.1Voluntary participation of research staff4.2Protection of students and doctoral candidates4.3Conscientious objection and its routes4.4Pressure from the group and the funder4.5Confidentiality versus the right to publish4.6Academic career and dependence on funding4.7Mandatory ethics training4.8Whistleblowing channels and whistleblower protection4.9Internal climate and plural debate4.10Practice: an objection protocol for a centre
5.1Drafting a responsible research policy5.2Public criteria for accepting funders5.3Public register of projects and funds5.4Communication to the university community and the public5.5Relations with industry and public administrations5.6Periodic evaluation of the policy5.7Comparison with other universities5.8Compliance indicators5.9Managing a reputational crisis5.10Practice: drafting an institutional policy
6.1Choosing the university or centre6.2Diagnosis of its research and funding6.3Analysis of the applicable regulatory framework6.4Identification of gaps and risks6.5Design of the committee and its procedure6.6Proposed institutional policy6.7Objection and whistleblowing protocol6.8Training and transparency plan6.9Proposal report6.10Defence of the work
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 enrolment period, which makes it possible to combine the course with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Zotero, NVivo, advanced Excel, Microsoft Power BI, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Case work is based on real protocol review procedures before a simulated ethics committee, analysis of real dual-use research cases, and documentary audits of funded projects. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrative 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 research with defence applications.
Interpret the European and Spanish regulatory framework on dual-use and defence research.
Design how an ethics committee functions when reviewing sensitive projects.
Evaluate the ethical risks of a project at the proposal, execution and dissemination stages.
Protect the rights of researchers and students, including conscientious objection and academic freedom.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree is required.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- A sufficient level 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 totals 300 hours, spread over 3 to 5 months. That averages between 10 and 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
The course uses Zotero, NVivo, advanced Excel and Microsoft Power BI. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM diploma on passing the continuous assessment and the integrative 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 recognised towards the higher-level programme. Please check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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