AI Ethics and Auditing: Principles and Practices

The module is designed for individuals from diverse backgrounds keen to engage with ethical issues in an AI landscape. Whether you are a master’s or research student, technology professional, policymaker, educator, or simply someone interested in understanding the ethical implications of AI, this module offers insights and skills you will need to thrive in your career.

On completion of this micro-credential, you will: 

• Demonstrate a unique understanding of core conceptual issues in ethical AI.
• Describe the state of the art in addressing issues of bias from theoretical, technical and regulatory perspectives.
• Develop rigorous analysis of the ethical ramifications of an AI system on society, including its far-reaching impact and implications for various spheres.
• Perform a formal ethical audit of an AI system.

Divided into three components, the module will begin by focusing on ethical considerations in AI development, addressing privacy, bias, and discrimination issues, and exploring solutions such as regional regulations and technical approaches. The second component delves into AI’s societal impact, discussing its effects on democracy, education, economy, and the environment, while also addressing concerns about job displacement and economic inequalities. The final section emphasises auditing AI systems for transparency, accountability, and ethical use, providing practical skills in defining audit scopes, assessing data quality and biases, evaluating model performance, and understanding regulatory frameworks.

• You will develop a strong awareness of ethical issues in AI development and deployment, enabling you to navigate complex ethical dilemmas. This will also include critical thinking skills, empowering you to evaluate and address ethical challenges in your personal and professional lives.

• Through hands-on exercises and practice, students will acquire skills in analysing AI systems for ethical implications, preparing them for AI ethics consulting, compliance, management, auditing, or policy development jobs.

• Exposure to diverse disciplines such as philosophy, law, computing, and environmental studies will broaden students’ perspectives, enriching their understanding of AI ethics and its societal implications.

• Engagements with multimedia presentations covering essential AI ethics and auditing topics, incorporating videos, audio clips, and interactive elements to enhance learning.

• Asynchronous online discussion forums to facilitate peer-to-peer interaction to allow critical dialogue.

• Modularised content to allow students to progress through the course at their own pace, accessing materials and completing assignments according to their schedules.

• Scheduled virtual office hours with instructors to allow students to seek clarification, ask questions, and receive personalised guidance.

Entry requirements are a primary degree with a minimum of 2.2 classification, second class honours, grade two or international equivalent.

Applications may also be considered from those with significant, relevant, practical experience on a case-by-case basis.

Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate English language proficiency as per UCD’s minimum requirements.

There will be three graded assessments:

• The first two will be pre-recorded debates around AI ethical lenses. 
• The final written assignment is where learners choose a real-world project in their area of interest, apply the core project management tools as if they were managing that project, and analyse the management style, challenges, and outcomes to identify lessons that could be applied in future projects.

Individual feedback will be provided for graded assignments. Group feedback will be provided for other non-graded assignments.

This micro-credential is also a module at the UCD’s Centre for Digital Policy’s master’s studies.

If you have any questions about this micro-credential, or would like to speak to a UCD staff member, please contact (opens in a new window)microcredentials@ucd.ie.