In 2005 the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Engineering Council jointly created a statement of ethical principles to guide engineering practice and behaviour. A revised statement was produced in 2017, followed by a further joint update in 2026.
The statement is the result of wide consultation, both within the engineering profession and with other professionals specialising in applied ethics.
The refreshed Statement reflects the changing technology environment and the new challenges faced by engineering professionals today. The Statement considers developments in professional practice, in the wider technology environment, and in society’s expectations more broadly.
The Statement’s five fundamental principles for ethical behaviour and decision-making are designed to apply to all engineering professionals and form the core of the specific codes of conduct set out by the individual professional engineering institutions.
The Engineering Council and the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) believe that all persons engaged in engineering at any level, from the youngest apprentice and student, should be educated and encouraged to think and work in accordance with these ethical principles. The statement is therefore offered to employers and to education, training and qualification providers to adopt or include in their curricula as they see fit.
The aim is for engineering to be seen and recognised by the public as a trusted and ethical profession.
The Statement of Ethical Principles is underpinned by five fundamental principles:
Engineering professionals have a duty to uphold the highest standards of professional conduct at all times, including openness, fairness, honesty and integrity. They:
- act reliably and in trustworthy ways and are accountable for their actions
- respect confidentiality, intellectual property and personal or sensitive information, and respect the privacy of individuals and communities
- identify, declare and address conflicts of interest
- avoid knowingly misleading others and take steps to prevent corrupt practices, including plagiarism, misinformation and false representation
- reject bribery and improper influence
Engineering professionals have a duty to protect people, respect rights, uphold the trust placed in them by society nationally and globally, and obey all applicable laws and regulations. They give due weight to facts, published standards and guidance, and act to assess and manage risks. They:
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make the health and safety of others a leading priority and draw attention to hazards
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report malpractice and irresponsible or unsafe practice, whether within the workplace or outside
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are aware of how their work and behaviour might affect others, and respect rights of individuals and communities
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ensure their work is lawful, justified, evidence-based and in the public interest
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recognise the importance of physical and cyber security and data protection
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work to deliver inclusive outcomes, meeting diverse needs across society
Engineering professionals have a duty to acquire, maintain and use wisely the understanding, knowledge and skills needed in their role, and apply this to their work so that it meets the highest standards. They:
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act with care and diligence in all professional work, recognising that public trust depends on its accuracy, integrity and quality
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undertake work only within their current competence or under competent supervision, applying sound judgment and critical thinking
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ensure that they have the right knowledge and expertise to tackle a project, applying sound judgment and critical thinking especially in novel or emerging areas
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actively maintain knowledge, skills and competence, and support others to do the same
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test evidence objectively and without bias, respecting the views of others and with awareness of assumptions, uncertainty and limits of understanding
Engineering professionals have a duty to uphold and promote high standards of leadership and communication. They:
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engage with communities and wider society, and communicate responsibly about how engineering should meet people’s needs
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foster a culture where concerns can be raised without fear of reprisal, and act on well-founded concerns
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communicate clearly, accessibly and proportionately about benefits, risks, uncertainties and trade-offs in engineering works
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promote equity, equality, diversity, fairness and inclusion, creating inclusive cultures to support everyone in the profession
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acknowledge and communicate uncertainty, limits of evidence, and unknowns
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maintain public trust and uphold the reputation and standing of the profession
Engineering professionals have a duty to act as stewards of technology, developing technology responsibly, with an awareness of the lasting consequences of their work for society and the environment and taking account of the long-term, systemic, intergenerational and environmental impacts. As far as is reasonably practicable, they:
- consider fully the risks and ethical implications of emerging and fast-moving technologies, such as artificial intelligence and technologies with autonomous or semi-autonomous capabilities
- anticipate wider and emergent consequences and potential for misuse of technologies, and apply precaution proportionately where potential harms are serious or irreversible
- account for immediate, cumulative and systemic risks - including climate change, biodiversity loss, inequality and resource depletion
- manage technology responsibly across its lifecycle, including decommissioning
- protect and, where possible, restore natural and built environments
- consider future impacts of engineering and avoid shifting risks or burdens to future generations, distant geographical locations or supply chains, whether local or global
