New Technology and Responsible Innovation Micro-credential

In the last decade, technologies have revolutionised our work environments, by expanding business opportunities and increasing productivity and efficiency, as well as raising important ethical questions in terms of privacy, autonomy, responsibility, and wellbeing. This micro-credential has been designed for professionals who need and wish to learn about the ethical challenges posed by the design, introduction, and use of technologies in the work environment, such as professionals designing or selling technologies (e.g., sales engineers) and any professions relying on new technologies of any kind, such as in human resources, collection of data, legal practice, and healthcare.

On completion of this micro-credential, you will:

1. Be able to identify ethical challenges raised by technologies and their impact on the workplace and society;
2. Be able to apply ethical decision-making approaches to the challenges faced in the design or use of technologies and formulate ethically informed strategies to address these challenges;
3. Be able to critically assess different ethical approaches to the challenges raised by technologies in the workplace;
4. Be able to contribute and lead companies’ decision-making on how to tackle ethical challenges raised by technologies in their workplace, based on the concepts, views, and arguments introduced in class.

Questions explored in the micro-credential:

• What is technology and which ethical questions does it raise?
• Are technologies morally and politically neutral? Or do they carry and propagate specific moral values and political ideals? And if values and ideals are embedded in technologies, how do we make sure that technologies are aligned with the values and ideals that we find desirable?
• What should count as responsible innovation? How should we evaluate and compare possible risks and benefits when making decisions regarding the design and introduction of new technologies in society/workplace?
• Which moral principles should guide the use of technology?
• Are there virtues that technology designers and users should develop?

This micro-credential will be relevant to those who wish to acquire competitive skills in the contemporary work environment, who strive to create a healthy workplace, grow as responsible professionals, and become agents for positive change.

In particular, students will acquire and train in ethical decision-making skills, learn how to manage risks and opportunities arising from the design, introduction, and use of technologies in the workplace, and successfully solve ethical conflicts in terms of privacy, autonomy, and responsibility. 

Organisations, corporations, and businesses all stand to reap significant benefits from investing in their workforce's development through this micro-credential; empowering employees to tackle ethical complexities, leading to enhanced corporate social responsibility, fortified public trust, and improved brand reputation.

The micro-credential is delivered in a hybrid mode. Monday: recorded classes will be available on the UCD online learning platform (Brightspace) as well as other teaching materials. Friday: Participants will have the opportunity to attend discussion seminars in class or online.

A good undergraduate degree (minimum level of GPA 2.7 or international equivalent).

Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate proof of English proficiency as per UCD's minimum English language requirements.

• Weekly assignment (300 words x 5 weeks) - 40%
• Final elaboration of the weekly assignments (1800 words) - 60%

Written feedback will be provided for both the weekly and final assignments.

Our Prof Cert in Ethics micro-credential may also be of interest.

If you have any questions about this micro-credential, or would like to speak to a UCD staff member, please contact (opens in a new window)microcredentials@ucd.ie.

Please note: Learners can avail of only one form of funding per application. 

Micro-Credentials Learner Fee Subsidy-Human Capital Initiative Pillar 3

The HCI Pillar 3 Micro-credential Learner Fee Subsidy has been introduced to enable more learners to address critical skills gaps and engage with lifelong learning through micro-credentials. The HCI Pillar 3 Micro-credential Learner Fee Subsidy is funded by Higher Education Authority (HEA) and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. 

HCI Micro-credential Learner Fee Subsidies are available on identified micro-credentials only and in fixed numbers from March 2024 until October 2025.  

Please see Eligibility Criteria for further information.