Description
Course overview
Technical knowledge tells us what can be done. Professional judgement helps us decide what should be done.
This course explores the difficult decisions that built environment professionals face throughout the project lifecycle. Using realistic scenarios drawn from industry practice, you’ll examine situations where professional duties, commercial pressures and stakeholder expectations don’t align neatly.
Throughout the programme you’ll explore:
- Professional responsibilities and competing priorities
- Decision-making frameworks for complex situations
- Communication approaches that support productive challenge and collaboration
- Risk, accountability and professional judgement
- Real-world dilemmas involving clients, colleagues, communities and the environment
- An immersive final workshop designed to test and develop your decision-making skills
The course creates a safe space for discussion, reflection and peer learning, enabling participants to explore challenging situations and learn from different professional perspectives.
Programme leaders
Carys Rowlands, MA (Cantab), BPTC, PG Cert Env. Ec.
Carys completed the Bar Professional Training Course before moving into professional regulation and standards. She’s currently Head of Professional Standards at RICS and previously held the same role at RIBA, where she led the Ethics and Sustainable Development Commission and oversaw the review and overhaul of the Code of Professional Conduct and Code of Practice. She holds a postgraduate certificate in Environmental Economics and is completing a Diploma in Adjudication in the Construction Industry with RICS. Carys has delivered ethical practice CPD for RIBA and across practice and education, and is lead author of the RIBA Ethical Practice Guide. She’s driven by debate, discussion and raising standards of professional judgement across the sector.
Alasdair Ben Dixon, ARB RIBA
Alasdair is a chartered architect, co-founder of Collective Works, trustee of Architects Declare and sits on the RIBA Standards committee. He has a long-held commitment to balancing the needs of the wider community with those of of clients and stakeholders. During his career, he’s tackled ethical demands within an established practice, an architectural charity and whilst running his own practice. Alasdair was a member of the RIBA Ethics and Sustainable Development Commission and co-authored the RIBA Ethical Practice Guide with Carys Rowlands. His notable projects include the Brixton Remakery, the RISE Theatre in Waterloo, and several NHS Social Prescribing projects. Alasdair was shortlisted for ESG Leader of the Year at Property Week’s 2024 ESG Awards and is an advisor to Architecture Sans Frontières UK.
Why study this course?
You’ll learn how to:
- Recognise emerging risks, ethical red flags and challenging situations before they escalate
- Make balanced, defensible decisions under pressure
- Navigate competing demands from clients, colleagues, communities and regulators
- Strengthen communication and collaboration across project teams
- Apply practical decision-making frameworks to real-world challenges
- Build confidence in your professional judgement and leadership
Who should study this course?
This course is designed for professionals across the built environment, including:
- Architects
- Building surveyors
- Quantity surveyors
- Engineers
- Project managers
- Planners
- Contractors and developers
- Policy and public sector professionals
It’s particularly valuable for:
- Early and mid-career professionals taking on greater responsibility
- Team leaders and managers responsible for complex decisions
- Professionals looking to strengthen leadership and professional judgement skills
- Organisations seeking to improve decision-making, collaboration and risk awareness across teams
The course is relevant to both UK and international professionals.
What you’ll gain
By the end of the course, you’ll be able to:
- Recognise ethical dilemmas, professional risks and emerging issues
- Understand how responsibilities interact across different professional roles
- Apply practical frameworks to make balanced, justifiable decisions
- Communicate confidently in challenging situations
- Work more effectively across disciplines and stakeholder groups
- Explain and champion the value of professional and ethical decision-making within your organisation
Key features
- Practical, scenario-based learning
- Real-world dilemmas from contemporary built environment practice
- Interactive workshops, discussion and role play
- Cross-disciplinary learning and collaboration
- Decision-making tools and frameworks you can apply immediately
- Delivered by recognised leaders in professional standards and practice
- Suitable for individuals and organisational cohorts
- 10 hours of flexible learning
Learning objectives
By the end of the course, you’ll be able to:
- Recognise ethical dilemmas, red flags, and emerging risks, in day to day situations and more broadly across the built environment sector
- Understand the interaction between one’s own role and responsibilities and those of other professionals in light of the law, codes and best practices within the built environment
- Develop communication and collaboration skills to address ethical scenarios involving other built environment professionals, clients and stakeholders
- Confidently apply recommended frameworks, tools, and behaviours to navigate real-world dilemmas
- Make informed, balanced, justifiable ethical decisions
- Articulate the benefits of an ethical approach and overcome typical barriers to action within the built environment
Learning and assessment
Learning is delivered through:
- On-demand learning through the Online Academy virtual learning environment
- Live online workshops via Zoom
- Scenario-based activities, guided discussion, role play and peer-to-peer learning
There’s no formal assessment for this course. You’re encouraged to reflect on your learning and retain course materials for your continuing professional development records and professional portfolio.
Time commitment
The next cohort begins on Monday 26 October 2026, with live online workshops taking place on 13, 20 and 27 November 2026.
Key features
- Hybrid tutor-led delivery
- Relevant to professionals across the built environment sector
- Grounded in professional guidance, including the RIBA Ethical Practice Guide
- Strong focus on ethical judgement, accountability and professional responsibility
- Practical, applied learning using real-world ethical scenarios from contemporary practice
- Emphasis on discussion, reflection and peer learning to support confident decision-making
- Suitable for individuals or whole organisations
- Delivered by an established built-environment provider
Participation requirements
Although there’s no formal application process, you’re expected to have:
- Professional or academic experience working in the built environment sector
- An interest in protecting commercial relationships
- A willingness to engage in discussion, reflection and peer learning
Technical requirements
To participate, you’ll need:
- A computer, laptop, tablet or mobile device with audio and video playback capability
- Internet access (broadband recommended)
- An up-to-date web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari or Edge)
- Software for opening PDF documents
- A smartphone with an authenticator app for secure sign in
Please note that systems with firewalls may require pop ups and YouTube access to be enabled.
Enrolment details
Enrol today for the next cohort. For any questions about our CPD courses or need help with your application? Get in touch with our friendly admissions team using the following details:
UK (Free):Â 0800 019 9697 (Press 1)
International:Â +44 (0)118 921 4696 (Press 1)
Email: enquiries@ube.ac.uk
Cancellation policy
Online Academy recognises that a change in circumstances can sometimes be unavoidable and that delegates who register for a scheduled event may need to withdraw or change their original registration.
If you are unable to attend this scheduled CPD course you are booked on, you may request to substitute another person to attend in your place provided you notify us in writing at academy@ube.ac.uk at least five working days before the event.
Refunds are calculated as follows upon receipt of the written request to academy@ube.ac.uk
- More than 28 days before the course start date: Online Academy will retain 20% of the fees due
- 28-14 days before the course start date: Online Academy will retain 50% of the fees due
- Less than 14 days before the start date: Online Academy will retain 100% of the fees due
In the unlikely event of Online Academy withdrawing a course, all course fees paid will be refunded, however Online Academy will not be liable for any other costs or losses incurred.
