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Saving the World One 4 th Year at a Time Jeremy Smith

Saving the World One 4 th Year at a Time Jeremy Smith. or The EWB Undergraduate Research Program Undergraduate Research Coordinator Engineers Without Borders Australia (EWB). EWB Australia’s Mission.

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Saving the World One 4 th Year at a Time Jeremy Smith

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  1. Saving the World One 4th Year at a Time Jeremy Smith or The EWB Undergraduate Research Program Undergraduate Research CoordinatorEngineers Without Borders Australia (EWB)

  2. EWB Australia’s Mission Engineers Without Borders Australia works to improve the quality of life of disadvantaged communities, both within Australia and overseas, through sustainable, appropriate engineering projects. EWB’s vision is of a world where every individual and community has adequate access to the resources, knowledge and technology necessary to meet their self identified human needs.

  3. What does EWB do? HUMAN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AWARENESS / EDUCATION Volunteer International Placements (VIPs) Technical Assistance Networks (TANs) Local Initiative Projects (LIPs) Schools Universities Companies / Industry Engineering Profession EWB Members Public

  4. EWB Programs Technical Sectors • Water & sanitation • ICT • Appropriate energy • Disability access • Land / Agriculture • Infrastructure Nepal Laos India Cambodia Indonesia PNG East Timor Australia

  5. EWB Education • Aiming to achieve learning and change • The Education Team works to: • increase and diversify the level of information, knowledge and awareness among its members • improve the understanding of the role of engineering in sustainable development and poverty eradication • educate members on the skills required for sustainable community development • create career paths and opportunities for those who want to move into the area of engineering in development • focus on community identified needs • feed back outcomes to communities through the Programs-Community interface

  6. Undergraduate Research • In 2006 and 2007 started to engage with final year engineering students through their individual or honours research projects • Undertook a small number of pilot projects with students working in Australia on topics focused on EWB’s community work (including 2 at the DE) • Projects generated outcomes for all partners; students, communities, EWB, universities • Decided to develop a complete, structured Program Undergraduate Research Program

  7. Program Aims • Research on immediate and long term community needs • Provide additional resources, experience and research capacity to community partners • Facilitate the exchange and transfer of ideas, experience, skills, technology and resources between EWB, Australian research institutes and project partners • Expose undergraduate students to real world issues and challenges, to further develop their skills and expertise • Provide a framework for direct implementation of outcomes • Build the capacity and experience of EWB’s members and partners • Inform EWB’s planning, processes and program delivery • Facilitate university engagement in community development

  8. Case Study - Previous Project • Design for a solar-powered water pumping system for remote villages • identified as a need by EWB community partner in Nepal • student based here at DE • developed a series of questions for EWB field volunteer • student completed requirements, evaluation framework and concept design • outcomes delivered to the partner • one element is now in prototype field testing • graduate keen to undertaken volunteer position with that community (application of research and experience)

  9. Project Pipeline Community Partners Returned Volunteers TANs EWB Undergraduate Research Program Project Outcomes EWB Teams Chapters Partner NGOs Partner Universities Volunteers, Presentations, Outcomes, …

  10. 2009 Projects

  11. Program Status • Over the last 6 weeks the projects, covering 4 countries and 5 community partners, have been offered to students and universities around Australia • Each project will have a university academic supervisor and an EWB identified advisor • Generated significant interest among students and partners • Students keen to work on a ‘real’ project that can have impact • Plans to expand the number of projects over the next two years and offer a small number of travel scholarships • The Program will be officially launched as a nation-wide initiative at the EWB Conference later this month

  12. Program Outcomes • Program provides real learning outcomes that impact on both the students’ professional and personal life • Alumni from the Program have or are currently working on engineering development projects in: • Mongolia • Bangladesh • Indonesia • Derby, WA I am proud to be an engineer and be involved with a great organisation like EWB. [The conference] really changed what I want to do as an engineer

  13. Questions?

  14. Informed 4.Challenge 3.Comprehend 2.Concerned 1.Conscious Effective Unaware The 4 C’s to Development 1. Become aware of the plight of disadvantaged communities around the world 2. Care about the issues of sustainable development 4. Be challenged to make a difference, commit to actions that will work responsibly towards a better world 3. Understand the complexities of development and knowing how to change good intentions into meaningful impact

  15. Project Process EWB Project Identification and Scoping Identify and Assemble EWB Resources and Support EWB Resources, Tracking and Supervision Allocate Projects to Universities and Students Students Undertake Projects Review Projects for Resources and Inclusion Capture and Dissemination of Project Outcomes University Academic Supervision University Project Identification and Scoping Identification Allocation Monitoring Dissemination

  16. Project Roles EWB Advisor / Field Volunteer Partner EWB Student University Supervisor

  17. Framework • Project topics directly relate to EWB’s community work • Enhance undergraduate education • Provides additional resources, knowledge and benefit to community partners • Builds the capacity of EWB members and partners • Helps to inform EWB planning, processes and program delivery

  18. Program Outcomes • Direct research outcomes from students (thesis, reports, presentations, …) • Outcomes, recommendations and conclusions for community partners • Capacity within EWB • The students themselves

  19. Outline (slide to be removed) • EWB Overview • Program Background • Program Aims • Framework • Example • Outcomes • capturing, disseminating, implementing • students

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