Ethical Leadership (5cr)

Objective

Purpose of the course:
This course examines ethical leadership as a form of organisational guidance grounded in values, moral judgement, and ethical principles. It deepens understanding of how ethical leadership strengthens trust, fairness, and equity while supporting responsible and sustainable decision‑making. The course is aligned with the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) and contributes to the advancement of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Competencies:

Responsible Management Competence:
You are able to initiate and implement responsible business practices in collaboration with strategic stakeholders and partners.

Ethics:
You are capable of promoting ethically sustainable practices and supporting ethical reflection across diverse operational environments. You advance the implementation of ethical principles and values by making leadership decisions that consider individual, communal, and societal perspectives. You contribute to fostering diversity and accessibility. You adhere to the principles of good scientific practice and promote their application within the workplace.

Internationalisation and Multiculturalism:
You are able to develop practices within your organisation that acknowledge and support multiculturalism.


Learning outcomes:
Upon completing the course, you will be able to evaluate and analyse theories of ethical leadership, ethical principles, and values, as well as their significance for the leadership of work communities, business operations, and organisations. You will be able to advance ethical leadership within an organisation by identifying key stakeholders and recognising the diversity of working life. In addition, you will be able to reflect on your own ethical values and assess your actions from the perspective of ethical leadership.

Content

In the course, you will learn about the concepts and theoretical foundations of ethical leadership, ethical decision-making, the common ethical principles of the organization, employee understanding, business ethics and morality, as well as ethical issues challenging diverse working life. You will utilize the content you have learned in developing ethical leadership.

Qualifications

Corporate Social Responsibility course or equivalent competence.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Unsatisfactory 1:
You demonstrate competence in ethical leadership by identifying key concepts and theories, but you do not yet reflect on your ethical values or actions.
You promote ethical leadership within the organisation while considering only the individual-level perspective.

Satisfactory 2:
You demonstrate competence in ethical leadership by mastering key concepts and theories and by reflecting on your ethical values and actions from an individual perspective.
You promote ethical leadership within the organisation by considering individual, work community, and organisational viewpoints.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Good 3
You demonstrate competence in ethical leadership by mastering key concepts and theories and by reflecting on ethical values and actions in connection with the work community. You promote the implementation of ethical leadership within the organisation by taking into account the diversity of working life.

Very Good 4
You demonstrate competence in ethical leadership by mastering key concepts and theories and by reflecting on ethical values and actions in connection with both the work community and the organisation. You promote the implementation of ethical leadership within the organisation by taking into account the diversity of working life as well as key stakeholders.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Excellent 5:
You demonstrate advanced competence in ethical leadership by integrating key concepts and theories and by critically reflecting on ethical values and actions at the levels of the individual, work community, and organisation.
You effectively promote the implementation of ethical leadership by recognising the diversity of working life, engaging key stakeholders, and applying ethical principles comprehensively and proactively in organisational contexts.