Humanitarian Engineering Community Project

Humanitarian Engineering is the application of people-centred engineering to improve the quality of life of marginalised individuals and disadvantaged communities, including participatory design of appropriate technologies that promote well-being. For engineers to successfully implement community-focussed solutions, they must be competent in specific engineering skills and intercultural literacy, and be resilient and adaptable in different geographic and cultural settings. This is the Capstone Course required for completion of the Diploma in Global Humanitarian Engineering (DipGlobalHumanEng). The course focuses on an experiential learning project in which practical Humanitarian Engineering activities will be conducted in partnership with a community, to help achieve that community’s development aspirations and goals. Prior to departure, students will undertake preparatory sessions on the community’s geographic and environmental context, and be introduced to relevant cultural factors and basic language requirements. While in the destination community, participants will conduct community engagement and team activities, requiring good communication skills and adaptability. This course is for anyone who wants to gain practical Humanitarian Engineering experience in a real-world community setting. To be eligible for this Humanitarian Engineering Community Project, students must have completed all other DipGlobalHumanEng programme requirements.