EWB Challenge
The pioneering design program teaching primary-year engineering students to design creative solutions to real world problems Get InvolvedDownload FlyerReal design challenges developed with real communities. Develop the professional and practical design skills of students with this first step into professional engineering practice. Using comprehensive design briefs researched and prepared by EWB Australia and our network of community partners, students develop engineering solutions for real communities living in the countries within which we work.
Each year, the EWB Challenge as part of the EWB Challenge Series, presents a new design brief for first-year students to problem-solve.
We partner with grassroots community development organisations in the Asia Pacific and co-design a real-life challenge that has been identified by the community. Each brief is meticulously researched on location, with extensive documentation, interviews,and multi-media assets provided to students to ensure a rich, deep insight into the life and challenges of that community.
Learn more about the program requirements for universities and students to participate.
Students work in teams and are given a term to develop their solution. Since the establishment of the EWB Challenge in 2007, students have worked on designs to solutions from renewable energy to food processing, and for communities in Zambia, Vietnam, India, Timor Leste, Cambodia and Vanuatu
The resulting student designs are reviewed by EWB, industry partners, academics and representatives from the community partner organisation. Importantly, all ideas are shared back to the community partner, enabling the potential for future development.
“The EWB Challenge really throws you in the deep end and gets you to consider all aspects of the project. You have got to engage with the client and consider the user experience,…not everyone lives the way I do or thinks the way I do. “
The Benefits
- Ready made platform supporting practical learning outcomes for students
- Low risk first step into real engineering practice
- Fosters human-centered design approaches
- Connection to like-minded peers and a network of leading community and industry organisations
- Contributes to real outcomes and purposeful research
Students
University
“A big part of the EWB Challenge program is that it teaches students empathy. Engineers are all about solving people’s problems. How can I solve your problem if I can’t empathise with that problem?”
The Showcase
The EWB Challenge Showcase is the annual capstone event of the EWB Challenge. The very best student design teams come together to compete for a selection of awards, adjudicated by an expert panel of community and industry partners. Students also have the opportunity to network and learn more about human-centered engineering approaches through supplementary workshops and presentations.
“I really liked having a real village in Vanuatu to work with, and knowing that I was designing for real people.”
Our Community Partners
The EWB Challenge provides EWB Australia’s community-based partners and programs with a valuable pathway for connecting with the global engineering and design sector.
EWB Australia works collaboratively with our community-based partner to identify projects for the design briefs that suit student engagement and support. Connecting with universities through a platform like the EWB Challenge is an opportunity for programs and community partners to source innovative, creative ideas and research for a broad range of projects of interest to them.
At the completion of each semester, ideas generated through student projects are workshopped with EWB Australia and partner staff and volunteers, to investigate how appropriate and inspiring outputs might be integrated into current or future areas of work.
Torres Strait Island Regional Council (TSIRC)
Community Partner for the 2024 – 2025 EWB Challenge
TSIRC plays a crucial role in the governance and administration of the Torres Strait region. TSIRC delivers various services and programs to the local communities, including infrastructure development, waste management, environmental conservation, and cultural preservation initiatives.
The 2024 – 2025 EWB Challenge design brief aims to support TSIRC staff with their work on the ground in Saibai Island. Students must consider the many challenges posed by climate change and the remoteness of the Torres Strait Islands when designing their proposals for Saibai Island.
EWB Australia in Mondulkiri, Cambodia
Community Partner for the 2023 – 2024 EWB Challenge
Since 2005, EWB Australia in Cambodia has been facilitating education, research and training programs for students and professionals and developing community programs with a strong presence in the water, sanitation & hygiene (WASH) and assistive technology development space, enabling the rural communities to have affordable and inclusive access to natural resources.
The 2023 – 2024 EWB Challenge design brief aims to support the priority issues and aspirations of the community in Pu Ngaol (pronounced ‘pu now’) village in Mondulkiri province and the work of EWB’s Engineering team on the ground. Students must consider seasonality, climate change, cultural alignment, and forest preservation when designing their proposals for Pu Ngaol village.
University Partners
Interested in our later year offerings?
Learn more about our Research Challenge, a program within the EWB Challenge Series for later-year undergraduate and postgraduate students of any discipline.
EWB Challenge Stories
Announcing our 2025 EWB Challenge community partner – WaterAid Australia 18 February, 2025 - Since 2009, Engineers Without Borders Australia (EWB Australia) has worked alongside communities in Timor-Leste to develop sustainable solutions to the unique social, economic, and environmental challenges they face. Through long-term… read more
That’s a wrap for the 2024 EWB Challenge Showcase! 9 December, 2024 - Each year, the EWB Challenge Showcase brings together top university student teams from across Australia and New Zealand, EWB staff, our community partner representatives, and industry. Students present the most… read more
Navigating the tides: Saibai Island’s battle against climate change 17 June, 2024 - In 2024, the First Nations context for the EWB Challenge will be delivered in partnership with Torres Strait Island Regional Council. Torres Strait Island Regional Council is Australia's most northerly… read more
Announcing our 2024 EWB Challenge community partner – Torres Strait Island Regional Council 30 January, 2024 - Each year, over 10,000 first-year university students across Australia and New Zealand participate in the EWB Challenge. Students work in teams to develop a solution to challenges identified by EWB… read more
Congratulations to the 2023 EWB Challenge Showcase award winners 21 December, 2023 - Each year, the EWB Challenge Showcase brings together top university student teams from across Australia and New Zealand, EWB staff, our community partner representatives, and industry. Students present the most… read more
Meeting on Yirrganydji Country for the EWB Challenge Showcase 20 December, 2022 - Hosted by event sponsors TNQ Drought Hub and The Cairns Institute at James Cook University’s Nguma-bada campus, the 15th EWB Challenge Showcase heralded the return to in-person showcases since the… read more
Announcing our 2023 EWB Challenge community partner 18 October, 2022 - Photo caption: Technology Development Specialist Mariny Chheang and Program Support Officer Chanrika Keo leading a female focus group with Pu Ngaol village members. Each year, over 10,000 first-year university students… read more
The challenge that blew his mind: Tim Kuiper 30 August, 2022 - As a newly-minted undergrad, Tim Kuiper took a seat in his first class of mechanical engineering at Deakin University. Little did he know, it was a unit that was about… read more
Embedding Indigenous perspectives at Griffith University 29 August, 2022 - The academic team at Griffith University has been working to authentically embed Indigenous perspectives into their engineering and design curriculum. This begins in a student's first year at Griffith University… read moreContact Us
Please get in touch if you’d like a copy of the current program outline.