Humanitarian engineers can be working from disaster relief, response and planning, through to long-term community development, both in Australia and overseas. The aim is to improve human livelihoods and independence, and empower individuals and communities to reach their goals and aspirations. Humanitarian engineers do this by applying their engineering discipline and skills, supported by additional knowledge of humanitarian and development responses and approaches.
As a student, you could be working with a social enterprise to assess the feasibility of a new technology or product for a specific application or working with an individual or community on an idea or concept they have developed, sharing your engineering knowledge and learning from others. Through your work, you are making the strengths and resources of the ANU, as well as your own knowledge, inspiration and motivation, available to partners, communities and individuals.
Learn more about partnering with us or providing a project.
Student Opportunities
In the classroom
- The Engineering for a Humanitarian Context ENGN3013 elective. This course runs every winter and explores the role of engineers in creating positive impact for a range of short- and long-term humanitarian and development contexts.
- Short-term international experiences such as EWB Summits can be incorporated into the ENGN2013 course to gain first-hand experience of Humanitarian Engineering.
- Research and development projects with a Humanitarian Engineering focus. Can be undertaken for final year individual or group courses or as part of R&D projects. These typically work with one of our community or for-purpose partner organisations in Australia or overseas. These are authentic projects where your research is contributing directly to the partner organisations work.
- The four-course Minor in Humanitarian Engineering. Commencing in 2019, this minor integrates the ENGN3013 course with subjects from other parts of the ANU to provide more knowledge of humanitarian and development work and contexts. It helps to build multi-disciplinary skills to allow you to work effectively in complex cross-disciplinary contexts to achieve positive impact.
Outside the classroom
- Two-week international study tours through EWB Humanitarian Design Summits. These run every summer and winter, with applications in March for mid-year trips and August for the summer.
- The Pollinate Student Fellowship Program aims to empower emerging leaders and offers the opportunity to work on real-world projects that address social and environmental challenges.
- WindAid Institute offer internship programs and volunteer placements in Peru supporting small-scale wind projects.
- The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) Grand Challenge Scholars Program aligns with many of the Humanitarian Engineering opportunities and the Minor. This certificate program allows you to graduate with an additional professionally accredited certificate from the NAE, to demonstrate your ability to work as a holistic engineering in the 21st century.
These opportunities can be incorporated into ANU courses and individual and group research and development projects. ANU also has a full list of global programs available to students, which includes opportunities relating to humanitarian engineering.
Who to contact to get involved
For further information or to express your interest in opportunities, contact Jeremy Smith.
Available funding to support your experience
OS HELP, as well as short-term scholarships from the Federal Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) New Colombo Plan (NCP),may be available to students. Opportunities typically arise every 6-months, in March and August for study tours. Check individual programs for details on funding and scholarships available.
FAQs
Who to contact to get involved?
For further information or to express your interest in opportunities, contact Jeremy Smith.
What requirements or courses can the EWB Summit count towards?
The 2-week overseas EWB Humanitarian Design Summits can contribute to your course requirements in a number of ways. This includes as part of a research project (such as ENGN4200 Individual Research Project), background for a system design project (ENGN4221 System Design Project), for work experience (the ENGN3100 requirement), and the elective Engineering for a Humanitarian Context course. If you are receiving a New Colombo Plan (NCP) scholarship, the EWB Summit will have to count for a non-0 credit-bearing course, so any of the options except ENGN3100. ANU currently has NCP scholarships for EWB Summits to Cambodia and Nepal, as well as scholarships for Laika Academy’s Design for Social Change program in Thailand.
What funding is available to support my experience?
OS HELP, as well as short-term scholarships from the Federal Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) New Colombo Plan (NCP) (depending on availability), may be available to students. Opportunities typically arise every 6-months, in March and August for study tours. Check individual programs for details on funding and scholarships available.
What career opportunities and pathways are available with Humanitarian Engineering?
Humanitarian engineering opens many opportunities and career pathways. ANU engineering graduates have volunteered with organisations including Engineers Without Borders Australia and established their own social enterprises and not-for-profit organisations, such as Abundant Water. Other graduates have worked for engineering consulting and project management companies and deference. These organisations recognise that humanitarian engineers have an enhanced set of skills to apply to all engineering work including technology development, creativity, communication, stakeholder engagement, and teamwork.