THE ROLE OF ETHICAL CHALLENGES OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN TEACHING THE COURSE «ENGINEERING ETHICS»
Abstract
DOI: https://doi.org/10.26565/2074-8922-2025-84-21
The article addresses the issue of developing ethical competencies in future engineers in the context of the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. The relevance of the topic stems from the fact that modern engineering practice is no longer limited to technical aspects but also encompasses significant social responsibility, particularly in the context of using autonomous intelligent systems. There is a growing need to integrate ethical approaches into the training of professionals capable of analyzing moral dilemmas associated with the implementation of AI. Special attention is given to emerging challenges in the field of automated decision-making, algorithmic discrimination, loss of privacy, and the decline in transparency and accountability of digital systems.
The aim of the study is to substantiate a set of teaching methods that foster the development of critical thinking and moral sensitivity in future engineers within the domain of AI ethics. The research is based on the experience of teaching the course "Engineering Ethics" at Lutsk National Technical University. The methods used include a survey (involving 89 students), analysis of contemporary academic literature, comparison of international ethical standards (EU, IEEE, UNESCO), as well as the use of case studies and role-playing games in the teaching process.
The results of the survey revealed that students are particularly sensitive to issues related to human rights protection, algorithmic transparency, and the preservation of human autonomy and privacy. Their comments emphasized the importance of a human-centered approach and the necessity of maintaining control over autonomous systems. Less prominent, yet significant, were the topics of environmental responsibility and global digital inequality. This indicates the need for a deeper exploration of these aspects in the course content.
The article proposes a range of innovative pedagogical approaches to teaching AI ethics, including case studies, discussion-based debates, role-playing simulations, and decision-making exercises under uncertainty. Emphasis is also placed on an interdisciplinary approach involving experts in philosophy, law, engineering, and IT. The proposed teaching model contributes to a deeper understanding of the complexity of ethical decisions related to AI and cultivates students’ capacity for ethical reflection and responsible decision-making in their future professional careers.
Looking ahead, the authors see the necessity of creating adapted educational programs and teaching materials that integrate AI ethics at all levels of engineering education.
In cites: Riabchykov M., Puts V. (2025). The role of ethical challenges of artificial intelligence
in teaching the course «Engineering ethics». Problems of Engineering Pedagogic Education, (84),
246-257. https://doi.org/10.26565/2074-8922-2025-84-21 (in Ukrainian)
Downloads
References
Ballot Jones, L., Thornton, J. De Silva D. (2025). Limitations of risk-based artificial intelligence
regulation: a structuration theory approach. Discover Artificial Intelligence, 5, article number 14.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s44163-025-00233-9
Coeckelbergh, M. AI Ethics (2020). Cambridge, MA, The MIT Press. https://coeckelbergh.net/ai-
ethics/
Dignum, V. (2018). Responsible Artificial Intelligence: How to Develop and Use AI in a
Responsible Way Virginia Dignum, Springer Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-30371-6
Ethics guidelines for trustworthy AI. High-Level Exspert Group on Artificial Intelligence.SET
AP BY THE European Commission. (2019). https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-
/publication/d3988569-0434-11ea-8c1f-01aa75ed71a1
Fan, G., Liu, D., Zhang, R. Pan, L. (2025). The impact of AI-assisted pair programming on
student motivation, programming anxiety, collaborative learning, and programming performance:
a comparative study with traditional pair programming and individual approaches. International
Journal of STEM Education, 12, article number 16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-025-00537-3
Fjeld, J., . Achten, N., Hilligoss, H., Nagy, A., Srikumar, M. (2020). Principled Artificial
Intelligence: Mapping Consensus in Ethical and Rights-Based Approaches to Principles for AI .Berkman Klein Center Research Publication, 2020–1, 39 p.
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3518482
https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3518482
Floridi, L. (2019). The Logic of Information: A Theory of Philosophy as Conceptual Design,
Oxford, Oxford University Press. https://academic.oup.com/book/27824
IEEE Global Initiative on Ethics of Autonomous and Intelligent Systems. Ethically Aligned
Design: A Vision for Prioritizing Human Well-being with Autonomous and Intelligent Systems.
(2020). https://standards.ieee.org/wp-content/uploads/import/documents/other/ec_about_us.pdf
Keith, M., Keiller, E., Yule, C. W., Kings, I., Robbins, P. (2025). Harnessing generative AI in
chemical engineering education: Implementation and evaluation of the large language model
ChatGPT v3.5. Education for Chemical Engineers, 51, 20-33.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ece.2025.01.002
Kim K., Lapatin M., Walsh, K.P., Feinstein S., Faust K.M. (2025). Moral sensitivity among
engineering students in a natural disaster context. Journal of Civil Engineering Education,
(2), 04024009. https://doi.org/10.1061/JCEECD.EIENG-2096
Lantada, A. D., Estadieu, L., Gorki, M., Höfele, P., Islam, M. (2025). Blurring the boundaries
between living and non-living? Examining and mapping the living properties of engineered
matter and systems. Technology in Society, 81, 102822.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2025.102822
Moor, J. H. (2006). The nature, importance, and difficulty of machine ethics. IEEE Intelligent
Systems, 21(4), 18–21. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/MIS.2006.80
Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence. UNESCO. (2021).
https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000381137
Shinghal, K., Saxena, A., Kumar, V., Saxena, M., Agarwal, A., Misra, R., Garg, R. (2025).
Essentials of Ethics for an Engineering Graduate. AIP Conference Proceedings, 3224(1), 020028.
https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0247054
Vegter M. W., Blok V., Wesselink R. (2025). Process industry disrupted: AI and the need for
human orchestration. Journal of Responsible Technology, 21, 100105.
