Engineering Virtue: A Behavioral Approach to Ethical Challenges in Engineering Education

This study introduces a transformative educational model that merges behavioral economics and ethics within the engineering ethics curriculum. This integration aims to address the ethical complexities arising from rapid technological advancements. Our primary finding reveals that embedding an ethics curriculum within the broader educational framework significantly boosts ethical decision-making competencies among engineering students. By promoting diversity and inclusivity, the study demonstrates that incorporating varied perspectives leads to improved ethical decision outcomes, essential for the global impact of engineering practices. The research validates the effectiveness of challenge-based learning in instilling ethical competencies and examines the role of e-learning environments in upholding ethical standards. Significantly, the paper re-evaluates assessment methodologies, emphasizing behavioral measures to capture the practical application of ethical principles in realistic scenarios. Ultimately, the paper argues for a shift in engineering education towards active engagement in ethical reasoning, highlighting the complex interplay of psychological influences on behavior. This approach is posited to cultivate a generation of engineers capable of navigating the moral dimensions of their profession with acumen and integrity.