This design challenge is integrated into undergraduate courses and allows students to explore the ethical, environmental, social and cultural aspects of engineering design. It also gives them practice using their skills and knowledge to benefit people and the planet.
Engineering for People Design Challenge is an international program that began in 2011. It is organized by Engineering without Borders currently present in the UK, Ireland, USA and SA. The Challenge involves the creation of a design solution addressing a local challenge in a given community by well-organized teams of Level 1 or level 2 undergraduate engineering students from various universities taking part in the challenge.
Research and Development Without Borders (RDWD) have partnered with Engineers Without Borders, the UK to involve Cameroonian Universities in the program. Universities of Ngaoundere ( National School of Agro-Industrial Sciences) and the University of Bamenda (College of Technology) have shown interest in the program and will be participating in the 2021/2022 edition.
The goal will be to provide an opportunity for Cameroonian students to gain international exposure, apply their knowledge and skills to the focused needs of the local communities, gain mentorship from experts in their domain, ensure the sustainability of their products and ensure the sharing of ideas within universities.
The activities to be carried out are:
- Design a brief/proposal that will be available for appraisals.
- Organize training on building community leaders, done by Engineers without borders
- Submission of the design project reports of the top five (5) teams of each university to be reviewed by an international pool of industry experts.
RDWB is working to strengthen the field of engineering and STEM in the country and hope to build strong partnerships with international Universities which will benefit young scientist, researchers and Engineers in Cameroon.
