We are driving change in the broader engineering community to ensure that all of engineering is focused on creating a positive impact for all people, now and in the future. One example of that intention is through the open letter we collectively penned outlining the change needed in how engineers are educated and developed. Further examples of that work include, but are not limited to:
Delivering the Engineering for People Design Challenge which takes a project learning approach to support students in understanding their impact as engineers on both people and the planet.
The challenge, delivered during a pivotal moment in an undergraduate student’s career, encourages individuals to broaden their awareness of the social, environmental and economic implications of their engineering solutions. Since 2011, the Design Challenge has been delivered in Cameroon, South Africa, the UK and Ireland and the USA to over 70,000 students.
Each year, Engineers Without Borders UK works with a programme partner to create a design brief based on real-world challenges that people in their community are facing, which are framed around the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This year’s programme partner is the Govan Community Project, a community-based organisation working in south-west Glasgow to achieve social justice in the Greater Govan area by building a strong community based on equality, mutual respect, support, and integration.
In 2023 over 8,500 participants from across the UK and Ireland took on the challenge. Their solutions were reviewed by over 200 volunteer reviewers, through which the top 36 teams were selected and invited to join us for the Grand Finals where they pitched their ideas to this year’s judges. This process whittled the number of teams down to six, who pitched to over 150 participants in attendance at the event, as well as a judging panel comprised of industry leaders and representatives from our community partner. Learn more.
Engineers Without Borders South Africa’s Just Infrastructure Lab is a volunteer-led portfolio that follows a project-centric and collaborative approach to support community-based nonprofits by harnessing its professional and student members to implement solar, water and other infrastructure solutions. Current active projects include supporting two children’s homes with their energy and water challenges. Learn more.