A new online course is being launched to educate industry professionals on ethics and compliance in the sector.

The massive open online course (MOOC) will begin on Monday, 30 January. It has been devised by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) Academy in collaboration with a number of experts, including Jay Blithe of the Barrett Values Centre, sustainable construction consultancy Responsible Solutions, and Ethical Leadership author Andrew Leigh.

The five-week course is designed to teach professionals on how to make better decisions in their work; improving relationships, identifying conflicts of interest and taking steps to minimise risk.

Ethical leadership skills will be developed each week as course participants reflect on interactive exercises and explore dilemmas that are relatable to their everyday roles. Subjects will range from bribery and corruption, to company policy and interactions in the workplace.

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The course is suitable for all levels of seniority and across all disciplines and departments, particularly those in construction management, site management, design, HR, procurement, surveying, and more. Overall, it is designed to start a conversation about the ethical challenges workers face, and to understand the role they can play in making a difference to the sector.

Course leader and owner of Construction Coach, Maria Coulter said: "Construction is a fast paced industry and people are working under tremendous pressure to deliver for clients and employers within complex frameworks.

"Unfortunately, conflicting requirements can sometimes force people to compromise their personal values. This can lead to disillusionment which not only erodes trust, but also damages morale and wellbeing, negatively impacting the performance of individuals and teams.

"By providing a safe place to explore and discuss ethical issues, and by opening this course up to anyone in the industry, we hope to facilitate positive change on a large scale."

(LM/JP)