Ethics in the Social Impact of Defence Course
Online 300 h course in ethics of the social impact of defence. 6 modules covering the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (2011), Directive (EU) 2022/2464 (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, CSRD) and R (statistical analysis). Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
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What you will be able to do
Understand the methods for measuring the social impact of defence spending.
Analyse the economic and territorial effects of the defence industry.
Assess the technology transfer from defence to civil society.
Identify impacts on communities, human rights and the environment.
Apply human rights due diligence frameworks to the value chain.
Develop accountability indicators and sustainability reporting.
Design a social impact assessment report for a defence programme.
Who it's for
- Social impact analyst seeking to specialise in Ethics in the Social Impact of Defence.
- Corporate sustainability manager seeking to specialise in Ethics in the Social Impact of Defence.
- Human rights and business consultant seeking to specialise in Ethics in the Social Impact of Defence.
- Defence economist seeking to specialise in Ethics in the Social Impact of Defence.
- Public policy evaluation officer seeking to specialise in Ethics in the Social Impact of Defence.
- Community relations manager seeking to specialise in Ethics in the Social Impact of Defence.
- 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 (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, CSRD)
- ISO 26000 (social responsibility)
- GRI Sustainability Reporting Standards
- Directive (EU) 2024/1760 (corporate sustainability due diligence)
- OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises (2023)
- Directive 2014/52/EU (environmental impact assessment)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1What is meant by social impact in this sector1.2Economic impact: employment, industry and territory1.3Technological impact and transfer to civil society1.4Impact on perceived security1.5Social and opportunity costs1.6Environmental and health impact1.7Impact on populations affected by conflict1.8Impact assessment frameworks1.9Data sources and their reliability1.10Exercise: identifying the impacts of a programme
2.1Industrial clusters and regional specialisation2.2Direct, indirect and induced employment2.3Quality of the employment generated2.4Economic dependence of a region2.5Effect of a plant closure2.6Economic multipliers and their critique2.7Opportunity cost of public spending2.8Comparison with other investment policies2.9Industrial restructuring and its cases2.10Practice: estimating the economic impact of a plant
3.1Transfer of military technology to civil uses3.2Historical cases of transfer and their reality3.3Reverse transfer from civil to military3.4Dual-use research and its governance3.5Effect on the university system3.6Training of technical human capital3.7Risk of steering the scientific agenda3.8Industrial property and access to knowledge3.9Assessment of the social return on research3.10Practice: evaluating the transfer of a programme
4.1Military installations and neighbouring communities4.2Firing ranges, noise and pollution4.3Contaminated land and its remediation4.4Explosive remnants and residual risk4.5Resettlement and land use4.6Participation of affected communities4.7Reparation and compensation4.8Impact on populations in third countries4.9Victim assistance and international obligations4.10Practice: community relations plan
5.1Designing a social impact assessment5.2Quantitative and qualitative indicators5.3Participation of those affected in the assessment5.4Ex-ante and ex-post assessment5.5Independent verification5.6Publication of results and open data5.7Parliamentary oversight and public audit5.8Honest communication of benefits and costs5.9Use of the assessment in political decision-making5.10Practice: designing a complete assessment
6.1Choosing the programme or installation6.2Defining the scope of the assessment6.3Identifying impacts and affected parties6.4Designing indicators and data sources6.5Estimating economic and social impacts6.6Analysis of environmental and rights impacts6.7Proposing mitigation and compensation measures6.8Participation and transparency plan6.9Assessment report6.10Project defence
How you'll learn
100 % online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded lectures and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetable: students progress at their own pace within the intake, 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 R (statistical analysis), QGIS, advanced Excel, SimaPro (life cycle analysis), Power BI, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical tests are studied using real procedures from regional socio-economic impact studies, consultations with affected communities and audits of sustainability reports. Assessment is continuous across modules, 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.
Understand the methods for measuring the social impact of defence spending.
Analyse the economic and territorial effects of the defence industry.
Assess the technology transfer from defence to civil society.
Identify impacts on communities, human rights and the environment.
Apply human rights due diligence frameworks to the value chain.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No previous degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient Spanish to follow the reading of technical regulations.
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 between 10 and 15 hours a week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
The work is carried out with R (statistical analysis), QGIS, advanced Excel, SimaPro (life cycle analysis) and Power BI. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM own diploma upon 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 advanced programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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