Ethical Leadership (5 cr)

Evaluation scale

0-5

Content scheduling

The study course is divided into three parts as follows

1,5 ECTS Orientation and Theoretical Background of Ethical Leadership

1,5 ECTS Current Phenomena in Ethical Leadership

2 ECTS Application of Ethical Leadership from Organizational and Supervisory
Perspectives

Objective

Purpose of the course

Ethical leadership combines values, morality and ethical principles. Promoting ethical leadership in an organisation has a positive impact on the corporate image and a confidential atmosphere in work communities and among stakeholders, as well as on the implementation of social responsibility in society.

As an ethical leader, you direct the values and ethical principles of the organisation's operations, which promote fairness and equality in the work community and organisation and ensure compliance with legislation in business decision-making.

Jamk University of Applied Sciences, School of Business is committed to the Principles of Responsible Management Education initiative (PRME), which aims to develop responsible decision-makers for future and advance sustainable development. This course primarily supports the following UN's Sustainable Development Goals: 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 16, and 17.

Competencies

Responsibility management skills
You are able to initiate and implement responsible business with strategic stakeholders and partners.

Ethics
You are able to promote ethically sustainable operations and ethical reflection in different operating environments. You promote the realisation of ethical principles and values by making decisions in your management, taking into account individual, communal and societal perspectives. You promote diversity and accessibility. You implement the principles of responsible conduct of research and promote their application in your work community.

Internationality and multiculturalism
You are able to develop practices that take multiculturalism into account in your work community.

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, you will be able to evaluate and analyse the theories, ethical principles and values of ethical leadership and their significance in the management of the work community and business and/or organisation. You promote the implementation of ethical management in the organisation, taking into account the key stakeholders of business operations and the diversity of working life. You are able to reflect on your ethical values and evaluate your actions from the perspective of ethical management

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.

Location and time

Course Schedule

The course begins on September 22, 2025, in the Moodle learning environment.

There are no scheduled meetings or webinars for the course.

You will find the detailed schedule in the Moodle learning environment, which opens on September 22, 2025. The course ends on December 19, 2025.

Attendance will be checked three weeks after the course start date. Participation in the course requires that you submit the first learning assignment by October 13, 2025.

Scheduled Online Course

Ethical leadership is a fully online course. You will study according to the schedule provided in Moodle.

Materials

Learning materials

Mitchell, P. A. (Ed.) (2019). Ethical decision-making: Cases in organization and leadership. Myers Education Press. ProQuest Ebook Central. https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.ezproxy.jamk.fi:2443/lib/jypoly-ebooks/detail.action?docID=5851525

The course utilizes current articles from journals such as Työn Tuuli, Journal of Business Ethics, and The Leadership Quarterly.

Additionally, you can use source materials found in Moodle and those you search for yourself (e.g., peer-reviewed scientific articles specific to the field).

Teaching methods

Ethical leadership is an online non-stop course.

You study at your own pace in the Moodle learning environment. In the learning environment, you will find the course instructions, schedules, assignments, and materials.

In the course, you will complete individual assignments, and your competence will be assessed based on skill tests and/or exams. There are no webinars or other scheduled meetings in the course.

Learning Assignments

1.5 ECTS Orientation and Theoretical Background of Ethical Leadership

Learning Assignment: Assess your prior knowledge of ethical leadership and set goals for developing your competence (written assignment, individual assignment, assessment: pass/fail).

Learning Assignment: Demonstrate your understanding of ethical leadership concepts (concept test, individual assignment, assessment: 1-5, 30% weight of the final course grade).

1.5 ECTS Current Phenomena in Ethical Leadership

Learning Assignment: Current issues discussion assignment (assignment based on individual work and collaborative learning). (written individual assignment, assessment: pass/fail).

2 ECTS Application of Ethical Leadership from Organizational and Supervisory Perspectives

Learning Assignment: Competence application exam (individual assignment, assessment: 1-5, 70% weight of the final course grade).

Your studies begin by familiarizing yourself with the course content, objectives, and completion requirements, and by setting your own learning goals.

In the first learning assignment of the course, you will assess your current competence and set goals for developing your skills. You will complete this learning assignment by October 13, 2025. By submitting the assignment by the deadline, you ensure your participation in the course.

Guidance

You will receive guidance in the Moodle learning environment.

Feedback

You will receive qualitative and quantitative feedback on individual assignments 2 and 4. You will also provide mid-course and final feedback on the course.

Employer connections

You will eloborate a development plan for the organization of your choice during the course.

Exam schedules

There is no exam in the course.

International connections

In the course, you will utilize international research literature and consider international perspectives in your development plan.

Completion alternatives

The course can be replaced by relevant prior studies or knowledge. See the Jamk Degree Regulations (17§) for more information and study guide.

Student workload

Your recommended time allocation for the 5-credit course is 135 working hours, divided as follows

Studying the course material 50 hours

Communal learning 10 hours

Individual assignments 73 hours

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

You demonstrate your ethical leadership skills by identifying key concepts and theories, but you do not reflect ethical values and actions. (1)

You promote the implementation of ethical management in an organisation, taking into account the perspective of the individual. (1)

You demonstrate your competence in ethical leadership by mastering key concepts and theories, but reflect ethical values and activities from an individual's perspective. (2)

You promote the implementation of ethical management in the organisation, taking into account the individual, the work community and the organisations. (2)

Assessment criteria, good (3)

You demonstrate your ethical leadership skills by mastering key concepts and theories and are able to reflect ethical values and activities in connection with the work community. (3)

You demonstrate your ethical leadership skills by mastering key concepts and theories and are able to reflect ethical values and activities in connection with the work community and organisation. (4)

You promote the implementation of ethical management in the organisation, taking into account the diversity of working life in business. (3)

You promote the implementation of ethical management in the organisation, taking into account the diversity of working life in business and key stakeholders. (4)

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

You demonstrate your competence in ethical leadership by mastering key concepts and theories, you are able to justify ethical values and actions in connection with the activities of individuals, work communities, organisations and stakeholders, and taking into account the societal perspective. (5)

You promote the implementation of ethical management in an organisation, taking into account the diversity of business working life and key stakeholders, as well as the effects of ethical principles from a societal perspective. (5)

Qualifications

Corporate Social Responsibility course or equivalent competence.

Further information

Assessment Methods

The course utilizes various qualitative assessment methods such as feedback from the teacher on assignments, self-assessment, and peer feedback.

The assessment of learning is developmental and based on competency goals.

The course follows the guidelines of Arene and the rules of Jamk in the instructions for assignments, including the use of artificial intelligence and potential ethical issues.