As an aspiring electrical engineer, I am deeply committed to upholding and promoting ethical principles in every area of my professional journey. Recognising the profound impact that engineering has on society, it is my duty and responsibility to ensure that my contributions are guided by the highest ethical standards as set out by the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAE) and the Engineering Council (EC).
Integrity is extremely important to me, in both my personal and professional life. I vow to conduct myself with honesty, transparency, and accountability in all my endeavours. I understand that the trust placed in electrical engineers is rooted in our ability to act ethically, and I am dedicated to fostering this trust through my integrity.
Innovation and progress are vital to the field of electrical engineering, and I am committed to pursuing these advancements ethically, accurately, and safely. I will prioritise public health over pressures of time or cost, considering the long-term consequences of my work on the environment and public safety. Striking a balance between technological innovation and ethical considerations will be a constant focus of my efforts.
Respect for diversity and inclusivity is another core principle I pledge to uphold. I recognise the importance of diverse perspectives in driving innovation and ensuring that engineering solutions address the needs of a global population. I am dedicated to adopting an inclusive environment where everyone’s contributions are welcomed, valued, and respected.
Through my own research, I have begun to study the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on engineering practices today (Engineering Matters, 2023) and the importance of diversity within engineering. Ethical decisions must involve a diverse and ethical workforce, as mentioned in The Royal Academy of Engineering’s Report, Engineering Ethics (2022), which is why I believe young people, women and those from ethnic minority backgrounds must be valued equally in STEM based careers. The demand for AI in certain workforces is becoming globally popular, and in some cases, replacing the jobs of real people. 76% of Gen Z are worried they will lose their jobs to AI (ZipRecruiter, 2023). However, APS Group (2024) say that we need to embrace this change within the workplace as the impacts are wholly positive. For example, data collection and analysis previously took hours to complete by a single person, but now AI can be autonomised in minutes, freeing up time for other important things. Despite this, companies have found that older or longer-serving engineers struggle to adapt to the change in working with AI. To tackle this, young graduates must be given opportunities to work in STEM sectors, providing an innovative outlook on the valuable change it can bring. Graduates who have recently had training in the most recent technological systems who understand the digital world will be vital in the future of engineering.
Unfortunately, a study found that one-fifth of companies do not employ from the 22-25 age group (Orlando et al. 2023). Additionally, the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) admitted a skills crisis due to a shortage of 173,000 workers in STEM industries (IET, 2021), as well as observing the average age of an engineer rise in recent years. To close this skills gap, engineering must become more diverse in many ways. In 2018, an Engineering UK report found that only 8.1% of engineers are from ethnic minority backgrounds (EngineeringUK, 2021). Similarly, a study by the Women’s Engineering Society discovered that only 16.5% of engineers were women, although this has increased since 2010 at 10.5% (EngineeringUK, 2022). The success of modern engineering relies on the diversity of the workforce and hiring the next generation of engineers. Embracing and engaging with modern technology will become a more enticing sector for young people and bring positive change to individuals, companies, and communities.
Furthermore, I am devoted to lifelong learning about the evolving ethical challenges within electrical engineering. As technologies advance, ethical considerations may become more complex, and I am committed to continuous education and adaptation to meet these challenges responsibly. Furthermore, I will actively engage in discussions, mentoring and collaboration to contribute to a culture that prioritises ethical decision-making and responsible engineering practices.
In conclusion, my commitment to ethical principles within electrical engineering is second to none. I embark on this professional journey with a dedication to integrity, responsible innovation, inclusivity, and ongoing education. By upholding these ethical principles, I aspire to contribute meaningfully to society through my work as an electrical engineer.
Bibliography
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[6] APS Group, “The benefits of integrating AI into the workplace,” APS, 2024. https://www.theapsgroup.com/en/innovation-hub/the-benefits-of-integrating-ai-into-the-
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[8] EngineeringUK, “Useful Statistics | Women’s Engineering Society,” archive.wes.org.uk,Mar. 2022. https://archive.wes.org.uk/content/wesstatistics2023
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