Data Ethics Course

Master the art of ethical data management

In today’s data-driven world, knowing what you can do with data is just the beginning. The real challenge lies in understanding what you should do. Navigate the complex landscape of data ethics, exploring legal considerations, privacy concerns, and cultural sensitivities like Māori data sovereignty to build a comprehensive data management plan. With newly updated, industry-relevant assessments, this course will empower you to make informed, ethical decisions – a core skillset for our data-driven future.

Developed by Dr Carolyn Mason, with contributions from Dr Dean Sutherland, Dr Geoff Ford, Dr Marty J. Wolf and Dr Dan McKay.

 

Overview

Using data makes your mahi | work more targeted and impactful, whether you’re shaping policies, or optimising a product for customer engagement. But without a strong ethical framework to guide your practices, data use can quickly move into dangerous territory. This online data ethics course provides you with the critical insight you need to develop a robust data management plan that prioritises autonomy, confidentiality and informed consent.

You’ll gain confidence in applying data ethics principles throughout the entire data lifecycle—from collection to the right to erasure. Exploring the ethical implications of data use and the importance of responsible data retention and destruction, you’ll be prepared to navigate the ethical challenges of our ever-evolving data landscape.

Our flexible online learning allows you to dive deep into these topics, with a special emphasis on integrating tikanga and Te Tiriti o Waitangi in Māori data sovereignty. Equip yourself with the knowledge and skills you need to ethically manage data – wherever the future takes you.

This course is ideal for
  • Professionals dealing with data across the government, private and NGO sectors
  • Policy and business analysts and advisors
  • Intelligence advisors, data scientists and consultants
  • Anyone interested in identifying and improving their personal and professional ethical use of data

What you'll learn

  • The ethical considerations around data use – gathering, storing, processing, and sharing data
  • How to confidently use and explain key data ethics terminology, and concepts
  • An understanding of Māori data sovereignty within Aotearoa New Zealand 
  • How to examine and understand the social and cultural implications of data sharing
  • Why engaging and consulting with Māori and Pacific peoples on data issues is important
  • How to recognise and balance the ethical data tensions that exist in your personal and professional life

Course outline

Our courses are flexible, enabling you to plan your study around your other commitments. You can choose to study when it suits you during the learning period (3 February – 6 April, with a one-week study break from 3 – 9  March), followed by a 2-week review period for marking and feedback (7 – 20 April).

For this course, you'll have an extra week to submit your final assignment, which shortens the marking and feedback period to just one week.

We recommend completing around 12 hours of study a week during the learning period (excluding the study break) – you can view the course overview here for more details on assessment timings. 

Module 1: Introduction to data ethics, ethics and reasoning
Become familiar with core ethical concepts and reasoning skills that will be explored in this course.

Module 2: Gathering and generating data
Explore ethical issues around privacy, confidentiality, data sovereignty and informed consent.

Module 3: Recording and storing data
Explore ethical issues around recording and storing data, such as confidentiality, privacy, and social justice.

Module 4: Processing data
Consider the limitations of algorithms, sources of bias, cultural considerations and questions of fairness.

Module 5: Sharing data and results of data analysis
Explore ethical concerns that arise when data and results are shared or not.

Module 6: Planning
Learn how to pre-emptively identify and mitigate ethical risks during project planning.

Module 7: Synthesis
Bring together your learning and apply your ethical reasoning skills in a comprehensive case study analysis. 

Upon successful completion of the course you will be issued a digital badge to recognise your learning achievements. This can take up to 2 months to be delivered after the marking and feedback period.  


Requirements

This course is equivalent to Level 8 postgraduate study therefore applicants must meet the entry criteria as approved by NZQA, and have; 

  • Either a Bachelor's degree or equivalent level qualification
  • OR equivalent professional experience in a relevant field. Learners may be asked for evidence of their relevant professional experience, which can include paid or voluntary work. If you’d like to check your suitability, you can email us at info@uconline.ac.nz
Pre-requisites

Courses are taught in English and therefore learners should be confident reading, writing and listening in English.

Technology requirements

We recommend a laptop or desktop computer and a reliable internet connection. For most courses you'll need to download and complete assignments. These are usually available in Microsoft Word.

Course fees

Course fees must be paid before learning can begin, either via online credit-card payment, or by contacting info@uconline.ac.nz to request an invoice. Please note: fixed invoice payment dates apply, so we recommend getting in touch with us as soon as possible to request an invoice, as this option is subject to availability.

Group discounts

Get your colleagues together to take advantage of our group discounts: 

  • 10% for 3 - 6 learners
  • 15% for 7+ learners

Contact our Partnerships Manager to learn more and enquire now.

Cap & minimum enrolment threshold

A minimum number of learners is needed for effective interaction and feedback, while a maximum cap of learners ensures high quality learning and support. If the minimum number of enrolments required for a course isn’t met, or the maximum cap is exceeded, learners will be given the option to defer their study or receive a refund.


Our people

Dr Carolyn Mason-Data Ethics course

Dr Carolyn Mason

Lecturer | University of Canterbury

Carolyn Mason has been an ethicist or Chair on a number of ethics committees, including the Upper South Island Health and Disability Ethics Committee and the Ethics Committee for Artificial Reproductive Technology. Her university teaching has included work on health science, bioethics, data ethics, legal ethics, political philosophy, criminal justice and computer game design. Carolyn’s research includes work on people’s relationship with the environment, artificial reproductive technology legislation, de-extinction (recreating extinct species), the provision of health care, reasons for action, and friendship. 

Dr Dean Sutherland

Dr Dean Sutherland

Associate Professor | University of Canterbury

Dean Sutherland is an Associate Professor in the School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury. Dean has served as the Chair of the University’s Human Research Ethics Committee since 2019. His teaching and research activities includes ethics, culture, and professional practices for speech-language therapists and audiologists. 

Dr Marty J Wolf - Data Ethics course

Dr Marty J. Wolf

Professor Emeritus | Bemidji State University

Dr Marty J. Wolf is the Chair of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)’s Committee on Professional Ethics, and an Erskine Visiting Fellow in the Philosophy Department at the University of Canterbury. He is an Emeritus Professor of Computer Science at Bemidji State University in Bemidji, Minnesota USA with over thirty years’ of experience teaching undergraduate computer science. His research spans theoretical computer science, bioinformatics and graph theory, and, over the last twenty years, he has engaged in collaborative interdisciplinary scholarship in computing and information ethics and the philosophy of computation. He was also part of the team that led the most recent update to the ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.

Dr Dan McKay

Dr Dan McKay

Tutor | University of Canterbury

Dr Dan McKay is a philosopher specialising in ethics. He works at the University of Canterbury. His research interests include consequentialism, free will, and freedom.

Please note: our academic team develop and present video content within their courses, but are not always the course facilitator. The course facilitator will engage with learners in the course forums, answer queries and mark assignments.