Engineers Without Borders Birmingham is a student Chapter of Engineers Without Borders UK, a national charity dedicated to placing global responsibility at the heart of engineering. Together, we are working to transform engineering and build a safe, just, and sustainable future for all.
Our Chapter aims to inspire and empower a new generation of creative, collaborative, and socially responsible engineers. Members have the opportunity to engage in discussions with academics and industry professionals, take part in trips, workshops, and Design Challenges, and contribute to impactful outreach activities.
As part of the inaugural UK Chapter Design Challenge, hosted at the University of Warwick, our Chapter proudly submitted a team that reached the Finals of this progressive competition. The challenge brought together students from Chapters across the country to address real-world challenges in Govan, Glasgow, with a focus on the built environment, community spaces, and housing.
Our team was made up of students from diverse engineering disciplines, including Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Materials Science and Engineering. Their innovative proposal centred on revitalising the community by transforming abandoned railway lines into cycle paths, renovating a derelict cinema into a vibrant community hub, and developing a waste-to-heat district heating network to help tackle fuel poverty.
Although the team did not take home the trophy, their creativity and collaboration earned them a place among the top five teams, as shortlisted by the judges. We are excited to build on this success and look forward to competing again for the title in 2026!
Our members also have the opportunity to become registered STEM Ambassadors, delivering a range of hands-on outreach workshops to schools across the West Midlands.
Through this experience, they not only strengthen their presentation skills and confidence in communicating engineering concepts but also play a vital role in inspiring the next generation to explore careers in STEM.
Engineers Without Borders’ workshops have a lasting impact on both teachers and students. Over two-thirds of teachers said they would now frequently integrate global issues into their teaching, and nearly 90% felt more confident explaining the role of engineering in human development.
Every teacher agreed that students’ learning is enriched when explored in a global context. Teachers also praised the workshops as “interesting, informative, and extremely well delivered”, with students valuing the chance to ask about STEM careers and university life.
To find out more about how to join, visit our Students Union webpage.
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If you have any questions or would like to get in touch, please contact us via email: ewb@guild.bham.ac.uk