The EWB Challenge Organising Committee would like to recognise the contributions made by the following organisations towards the development and implementation of the EWB Challenge.
Engineers Without Borders Australia
The EWB Challenge is an education initiative of Engineers Without Borders Australia (EWB). EWB brings together engineering students, young graduates, experienced engineers and even non engineers as a team to tackle the issues of development and sustainability and help solve basic, small scale engineering problems faced by many people in need.
EWB also aims to expand the dimensions of experience for engineers and engineering students through education and awareness raising activities focused on sustainable development, appropriate technology and poverty alleviation. EWB is committed to working with universities, professional associations, high schools and industry to increase understanding of these issues.
For more information about EWB visit: www.ewb.org.au
The East West Overseas Aid Foundation - Partner
Since 2005, EWB has been working in partnership with The East West Overseas Aid Foundation (TEWOAF) to build and resource the Computer Educational Centre at the Uluru Children's Home. TEWOAF has collaborated with EWB for the 2007 EWB Challenge design brief.
TEWOAF is a volunteer-driven charitable foundation which aims to ease the suffering of poor and disadvantaged people overseas through a range of initiatives in health care, child welfare and education. The organisation was founded in 1992 by Dr Natteri Chandran.
TEWOAF's mission is to:
- Raise money to fund initiatives in health care, child welfare and education
- Empower disadvantaged communities in developing countries
- Embark on field work within chosen communities
- Promote knowledge about the needs of developing countries
- Encourage the sharing of resources, skills and expertise from around the world to enable it to assist those in need
- Collaborate with other indigenous organizations working to aid the underprivileged overseas
Since its inception, TEWOAF has developed a number of projects in Alamparai near Kadapakkam, a small fishing in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. TEWOAF's main projects are the Uluru Children's Home, the Uluru Health Care Centre and the Post Tsunami Health Care and Research Project. The Foundation has also established a number of other community development projects in the region including youth groups, women's empowerment, microfinance and those that focus on health, the environment and education.
For more information about TEWOAF visit: www.tewoaf.org.au
Thiess - Corporate Sponsor
Thiess is the exclusive corporate sponsor for the EWB Challenge. By sponsoring the EWB Challenge, Thiess supports the integration of the EWB Challenge into university courses across Australia. Their funding also enables the international study tour, team prizes, a contribution to the partner program and finalist presentations at a special session of the 2007 conference for the Australasian Association for Engineering Education.
Thiess is a leading integrated engineering and services provider with diverse operations throughout Australia, Asia and the near Pacific.
Thiess aims to deliver successful outcomes to their clients across the diversity of their operations in Building, Civil Engineering, Mining, Process, Environmental Services, Utilities Services, and Facilities Operation and Maintenance.
Delivering strong financial performance, ensuring the health and safety of Thiess' people, continuously improving environmental performance and contributing to the development of the communities in which Thiess operates is fundamental to achieving sustainable outcomes for all Thiess' stakeholders.
For more information about Thiess visit: www.thiess.com.au
For information about careers with Thiess visit: www.thiess.com.au/careers
Competition Supporters
The EWB Challenge is supported by the Australasian Association for Engineering Education, The Australian Council of Engineering Deans, Engineers Australia and Speak Out. These organisations provided seed funding for the development and launch of the EWB Challenge in 2006. They are also represented on the EWB Challenge Organising Committee and they provide valuable in-kind support to ensure the success of the competition.
The Australasian Association for Engineering Education
The Australasian Association for Engineering Education (AAEE) is a Technical Society of Engineers Australia dedicated to the advancement of the Education of Engineers. The Association is the focal point for information on all aspects of engineering education within Australasia and brings together people from across Australia and New Zealand who are committed to engineering education. The AAEE annual conference, Journal and newsletters are used to promote the professional development of engineering educators and the development and use of new teaching techniques and tools.
For more information about AAEE visit: www.AAEE.com.au
The Australian Council of Engineering Deans
The Australian Council of Engineering Deans (ACED) represents engineering schools and faculties in 33 Australian universities. Its mission is to promote and advance engineering education, research and scholarship in Australia.
ACED has the following objectives:
- To provide a forum for Deans of Engineering to discuss matters of mutual concern and national importance.
- To monitor the state of engineering education, in terms of adequacy of programs and resources and quality of outcomes.
- To initiate and conduct reviews, consistent with its mission.
- To consult with and offer advice to universities, government and industry on matters relating to engineering education.
- To collect and disseminate information about engineering faculties and schools.
- To maintain strong links with IEAust, ATSE, AAEE and other relevant bodies to further its mission.
- To form liaisons, where appropriate, with related organisations both within Australia and overseas.
- To make statements on relevant issues to government enquiries, professional bodies, the media and the general community.
- To assist in informing the general community on the need for and value of high-quality engineering education and to assist IEAust in raising the status and influence of the profession.
- To promote research and research training in engineering.
Engineers Australia
As this country's largest and most diverse engineering association, Engineers Australia enhances both the influence and professional standing of engineers within the community. It also helps its 80,000+ members achieve their personal and professional goals by providing benefits, facilities and services designed to meet their needs through every stage of their career.
For more information about Engineers Australia: www.engineersaustralia.org.au
Speak Out
Speak Out limited is a leading social change agency that creates opportunities for people to change their world (for the better). Through SpeakOut Foundation, SpeakOut Community and SpeakOut Creative we develop and support creative ideas, skills, tools, resources, pathways and solutions that bridge social, economic and cultural divides.
For more information about Speak Out visit: www.speakout.com.au
University Collaboration
The EWB Challenge Organising Committee would like to acknowledge the assistance and encouragement provided by The University of Queensland and the University of Tasmania in the development of the EWB Challenge.
The University of Queensland
In 2006, The University of Queensland School of Engineering actively supported the implementation of a design project for first year engineering students based on an EWB program. EWB-UQ students created a team-based design scenario for students enrolled in ENGG1000 An Introduction to Professional Engineering. The design scenario was well received by the participating students. This pilot project strongly supported the concept of a national team design competition.
Since then, the UQ School of Engineering has encouraged the development of the EWB Challenge and continues to provide valuable advice on of the implementation of the competition. In January 2007, a team of EWB-UQ members came together to support the EWB Challenge Organising Committee.
UQ Engineering offers its students the largest number of engineering specialisations, a wide range of quality resources, and access to more award-winning teachers and researchers than any other university in Queensland. The excellent reputation of UQ Engineering ensures its graduates are highly sought after by employers and other research institutions within Australia and internationally. UQ Engineering attracts significant financial support for its engineering programs from government and industry, and provides a number of services to private and public enterprise. With an annual research income of more than $25 million, UQ Engineering provides Australia and the global community with progressive and sustainable advances in engineering research conducted through a number of specialised research groups.
For more information visit: www.eng.uq.edu.au
The University of Tasmania
The concept of a national competition was developed by EWB -Tasmania and The University of Tasmania School of Engineering during Semester Two 2006. The competition concept was developed as a tool to help meet the perceived need for a national, team-based first-year learning experience 'that would inspire and motivate new engineering students'.
The EWB Challenge Concept Paper (August 2006) was developed by EWB-Tasmania in collaboration with The University of Tasmania, The Australian Council of Engineering Deans and The Australasian Association for Engineering Education.
The University of Tasmania is one of Australia's oldest universities with engineering having over 100 years of tradition. The School's suite of engineering programs are fully integrated for their first 3 semesters, which ensures that all students are able to experience the multi-disciplinary flavours of engineering. Research activities are very closely integrated with industry and the School's applied research activities enrich the learning experiences in its academic units and also provide a fertile source of industry linked final year student projects. The School strongly believes in the use of problem based learning and the role of engineers in sustainable development - hence its commitment to the EWB Challenge.
For more information visit: www.utas.edu.au/eng