Key facts
UNE unit code: SLEM504
*You are viewing the 2026 version of this unit which may be subject to change in future.
- Trimester 1 - Online
- Yes
- Yes
- No
- 12
Unit information

Ethics and professional practice are essential skills in today’s evolving industries. In this unit, you will explore key ethical theories and principles, focusing on the unique challenges that arise in professional contexts. You’ll examine how ethics inform sophisticated decision-making for modern leaders, especially in fast-paced and rapidly changing environments.
Additionally, you will examine the role of professional organisations and codes of conduct in setting ethical standards. Through thoughtful and informed discussions, you’ll engage with the most pressing ethical and professional challenges facing today’s professionals, developing a deeper understanding of how to navigate these complexities.
By the end of this unit, you’ll be equipped with an enhanced awareness of the complexities involved in ethics and professional practice in the contemporary world.
Offerings
For further information about UNE's teaching periods, please go to Principal Dates.
| Teaching period | Mode/location |
|---|---|
| Trimester 1 | Online |
*Offering is subject to availability
Intensive schools
| Start | Finish | Duration | Attendance | Offerings | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TBA | TBA | 3 days | Non-Mandatory Intensive School | All offerings | Dates to be advised |
Enrolment rules
Notes
Please refer to the student handbook for current details on this unit.
Unit coordinator(s)

Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
- demonstrate an advanced and integrated understanding of major ethical theories and frameworks to analyse and resolve complex moral dilemmas in professional practice;
- develop a specialised ability to adapt ethical decision-making to rapidly changing environments, considering new technologies, social norms, and global challenges;
- demonstrate an advanced level of professional integrity, accountability, and transparency in various professional settings;
- demonstrate an advanced and integrated understanding of cultural diversity and its impact on ethical decision-making, ensuring respectful and inclusive practices in a globalised world; and
- apply specialised skills in conflict resolution and negotiation, applying ethical considerations to mediate and resolve disputes in stressful environments.
Assessment information
Assessments are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.
| Title | Must Complete | Weight | Offerings | Assessment Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1 | Yes | 30% | All offerings | Two multiple choice quizzes, each fifteen-minutes (approx.). |
| Assessment 2 - Assurance Task 1 | Yes | 40% | All offerings | Major Research Project with iterative supervision. Students must pass both Assurance Tasks in order to pass the unit. No.Words: 6000 words |
| Assessment 3 - Assurance Task 2 | Yes | 30% | All offerings | Twenty-minute (approx.) oral defence of major research project. Students must pass both Assurance Tasks in order to pass the unit. No.Words: 1000 - 1500 (equivalent) |
Learning resources
Textbooks are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.
Note: Students are expected to purchase prescribed material. Please note that textbook requirements may vary from one teaching period to the next.
Leadership: Theory and Practice
ISBN: 9781544397566
Peter G Northouse, Sage 9th 2021
Text refers to: All offerings
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