Humanitarian Design Summit
Travel overseas and learn how to work with real communities through human centered design and development approaches.Humanitarian Design SummitsTake your engineering degree beyond the lecture theatre
Transform your university experience through immersion in an award-winning learning program. Join one of our 28 day Humanitarian Design Summits!
Learning experiences like no other
Since 2015, Engineers Without Borders Australia's Humanitarian Design Summits have delivered transformative learning experiences like no other.
We are excited to offer a choice of two 28 day immersive study tours: Cambodia and Timor-Leste. Participants will live and work in community. You will learn how to apply your university course work to the heart of the design process with all the complexities of the real world.
This study tour is designed to challenge your thinking, push boundaries and create first-hand understanding of the important role engineers can play in creating positive change and impact.
Designing for Impact — Cambodia
- Dates
- 22nd Nov 2026 – 19th Dec 2026
- Location
- Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- Price
- $7,500. With a successful New Colombo Plan (NCP) grant the out of pocket will be $1,500 and airfare.
The Designing for Impact Humanitarian Design Summit in Cambodia exposes participants to the complexities of working with socio-economic and environmental systems as a professional engineer. The program allows participants to deeply explore the intersections of engineering, international development, technology and the creation of social impact.
The learning experience complements your university experience by providing an opportunity for you to apply what you are learning in a real world community. You will experience first hand designing for sustainable systems. This immersive experience will challenge and inspire you as you learn how to respond to ambiguity with humility, empathy and curiosity. Differences in culture and society will grow you in ways you can not anticipate.
Participating students will gain experience in
- Designing in complexity
- Learning and working in environments outside your comfort zone
- Socio-technical skills and mindsets
- Working and being immersed in community
- Evaluating solutions including maintenance, materials and cost
- Designing in resource constrained environments
- Presenting design solutions to stakeholders
- Rapid prototyping and development
- Client engagement and communication
- Cross-cultural engagement, teamwork and project management
- Professional and personal development
Eligible Applicants
The Engineers Without Borders Australia Humanitarian Design Summit is open to students currently enrolled in an undergraduate technical field of study in Australia or New Zealand. We also welcome students from other disciplines and recognise that all perspectives are important. Strengths-based approaches are at the heart of EWB Australia.
You may be eligible for financial assistance through the New Colombo Plan (NCP) grant or other study abroad support. Contact your study abroad office for more information.
How to Apply
- First round applications close: 28th August 2026
- Second round applications close: 11th September 2026
Engineering for Sustainability — Timor-Leste
- Dates
- 17th Jan 2027 – 13th Feb 2027
- Location
- Dili, Timor-Leste
- Price
- $7,500. With a successful New Colombo Plan (NCP) grant the out of pocket will be $1,500 and airfare.
The Engineering for Sustainability Summit in Timor-Leste exposes participants to the complexities of working with socio-economic and environmental systems as a professional engineer. The program allows participants to deeply explore the intersections of engineering, international development, technology and the creation of social impact that lasts.
Expand the boundaries of your university experience in the distinctive landscape of Timor-Leste as you take part in a community-based field project rich with hands-on experience. You will experience first hand designing for sustainable systems. This immersive experience will challenge and inspire you as you learn how to respond to ambiguity with humility, empathy and curiosity. Differences in culture and society will grow you in ways you can not anticipate.
Participating students will gain experience in
- Designing in complexity
- Learning and working in environments outside your comfort zone
- Socio-technical skills and mindsets
- Working and being immersed in community
- Evaluating solutions including maintenance, materials and cost
- Designing in resource constrained environments
- Presenting design solutions to stakeholders
- Rapid prototyping and development
- Client engagement and communication
- Cross-cultural engagement, teamwork and project management
- Professional and personal development
Eligible Applicants
The Engineers Without Borders Australia Humanitarian Design Summit is open to students currently enrolled in an undergraduate technical field of study in Australia or New Zealand. We also welcome students from other disciplines and recognise that all perspectives are important. Strengths-based approaches are at the heart of EWB Australia.
You may be eligible for financial assistance through the New Colombo Plan (NCP) grant or other study abroad support. Contact your study abroad office for more information.
How to Apply
- First round applications close: 28th August 2026
- Second round applications close: 11th September 2026
About Engineers Without Borders Australia
Engineers Without Borders Australia is a for purpose organisation creating social value through engineering. Through partnerships and collaboration we've focused on developing skills, knowledge and appropriate engineering solutions since 2003. Our country offices are located in Australia, Cambodia, Timor-Leste and Vanuatu.
Apply NowExperience
Living and working in the heart of a community, you’ll gain more than just professional skills and a deep understanding of what it means to be an humanitarian engineer. See how the Humanitarian Design Summit has been a life-changing experience for some of our past participants.
Students to date
Universities
Design Summit Stories
Meet our Futur-neers: Chelsea Hayward 19 May, 2022 - Feature image: Chelsea picking coffee beans in Railaco, Timor Leste during her time volunteering as a mentor on a Humanitarian Design Summit trip in July 2018. Nurse. Farmer. Social worker.… read more
Student research leads to award-winning thesis 9 December, 2020 - In 2019, as a final year Systems Engineering student at the Australian National University (ANU), Liam Highmore was accepted into EWB’s Research Challenge – the final-year offering in the EWB… read more
EWB wins award for engineering education excellence 9 December, 2020 - The Australasian Association for Engineering Education (AAEE) has recognised EWB and its University partners team for engineering excellence for the Humanitarian Design Summits in the Engineering Education Engagement category. The… read more