MLED5000 Ethical Leadership Course description

To start developing an authentic, sustainable organization, one must begin with ethical leadership. A leader is an important role model for the employees and sets the standard for responsible behavior in daily life. Furthermore, the manager is the person who represents the organization’s values and communicates these to the employees. He/she is responsible for developing a safe climate to avoid ethical challenges and to create safe notification routines.

This course provides insight into the underlying principles of ethical leadership and ethical dilemmas in modern organisations. This course provides students with an overview of relevant, contemporary theories and research findings. The theories are related to both ethical principles and management theory. Students should be able to analyze, discuss and reflect on complex issues related to ethical leadership.

Language of instruction is English.

None

After completing the course, the student must have the following total learning outcomes defined in knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student has:

• extensive knowledge of ethical theories/principles
• in-depth insight into crucial concepts related to ethical leadership, such as transformational leadership, authentic leadership and «aspirational leadership. »
• insight into how the relationship between the leader's behavior, the organization’s climate and the employees' behavior creates destructive leadership and climate
• knowledge of circumstances that prevent or encourage notification and «employee voice»
• knowledge of the challenges associated with notification and notification routines
• insight into ethical challenges related to digitalization and social media
• knowledge of CSR

Skills

The student can:

• criticize and analyze theories of ethical leadership
• discuss and discuss how and why ethical dilemmas arise in organisations
• apply theories and research findings in own management practice
• reflect on own behaviour related to ethical leadership

General competence

The student can:

• read, understand and be familiar with original literature related to ethical leadership
• communicate advanced professional knowledge to specialists (other professionals) and the general public
• identify potential dilemmas in your organization
• create a safe climate to avoid ethical challenges
• master the subject area's forms of expression

The point of departure for the course is the scientific and humanistic basis for well-functioning health care services and paramedical professional practice. The course will particularly focus on knowledge and skills that promote respect, empathy, reflection and relational competence. Practical training in interaction, basic infection control and lifesaving first aid are part of the course. The course also emphasises learning in an academic context, and written and oral presentation.

The student must have been admitted to the study programme.

After completing the course, the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student

• can describe the history of emergency medicine, the professional tradition, and their own profession
• can explain the structure of the healthcare system and the ambulance service’s place within it
• can refer to relevant laws, regulations, and rules that govern the healthcare service and the paramedic profession
• can recount the basic theories of good hygiene
• can explain basic ethical and communicative theories and perspectives relevant to professional practice
• can describe the purpose of patient safety, public health work, and the Public Health Act
• can describe the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and their significance for public health
• can describe the basic concepts, mechanisms, and tools behind digitalisation
• can describe how digitalisation shapes public and private life
• can describe simulation and skills training as a method
• can describe basic decision-making models
• can explain what evidence-based practice (EBP) is, describe the steps in the EBP model, and identify the characteristics of a scientific article (e.g., IMRAD)
• can explain the basic principles of life-saving first aid

Skills

The student

• can perform life-saving first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation with a semi-automatic defibrillator (DHLR)
• can apply basic hygienic and infection prevention techniques, including the use of protective gloves, proper handwashing, and hand disinfection
• can write reflection notes from observation practice
• can process and apply relevant research in written presentations
• can describe how the paramedic can contribute to patient safety, preventive, and health-promoting work

General competence

The student

• can reflect on relevant issues in prehospital work and the student role in the healthcare system
• can reflect on the social, ethical, and political consequences of technological change and provide examples of local and global technological differences, both generally and in relation to their field
• can communicate and collaborate with fellow students and others in teams/groups
• can reflect on ethical and communicative challenges related to professional practice
• can identify their own knowledge and learning needs and acquire new knowledge and skills

The work and teaching methods on the programme comprise lectures, seminars, group work in student groups of five to eight students, observational practice and simulation and skills training.

The students will take part in a two to three-day long observational practice in the ambulance service. The students also carry out simulation and skills training in lifesaving first aid.

The following must have been approved in order for the student to take the exam:

• Minimum attendance of 90% in observational practice placement
• Minimum attendance of 90% in simulation and skills training
• Minimum attendance of 80% at seminars and study groups
• One individual written reflection note from observational practice placement, 1000 words.
• Individual practical test in lifesaving first aid

Oral exam in groups of 4-6 students.

The exam consists of a presentation (approx. 20-30 min.) and subsequent examination (approx. 10-20 min.) The students will be assigned a topic for their presentation one week before the exam. The exam group is normally given the same assessment (pass/fail). In special cases, individual assessment may be given.