Engineering has a pivotal role to play in solving humanitarian challenges, enabling communities to progress towards sustainable development. Because the issues of humanitarianism are not just engineering problems, there is need to introduce new designs of engineering education to embrace and exploit combinational expertise in community-based engineering. ENHANCE aims at nurturing humanitarian attributes through engineering education for serving unsupported communities effectively and responsibly, in identifying problems and defining sustainable solutions. The novelty of ENHANCE lies in integrating highly diverse, yet complementary, expertise in engineering Higher Education (HE). The objectives of the project involve: (a) mapping professional attributes for mitigating humanitarian challenges over the next 15 years; (b) assessing and evaluating current graduate engineering programmes in Partner Institutions under the enablers needed to ensure humanitarian attributes to graduates; (c) setting up tools for evaluating graduate engineering programmes; (c) building capacity in the field of community-based engineering with interventions in curriculum content, assessment and feedback, methods of delivery; (d) tasting, adopting and implementing in current curricula innovative (i.e. inclusive, interdisciplinary, problem-based) teaching and learning methodologies; (e) developing and testing the ENHANCE Training Kit for staff development/training. Outputs of the project will be disseminated to audiences from HE educators and students in the partner countries; modern media (podcasts, video’s, etc.) will be utilised to share insights with a wide audience. ENHANCE will allow us to ensure advancement of community-based engineering directly to a range of Official Development Assistance (ODA) recipients and to instigate longer-term developments with beneficiaries and end users. Nevertheless, outputs of this project will be applicable to many other countries facing global challenges.
ENHANCE has developed essential attributes for addressing humanitarian challenges. We promoted collaboration, evaluated and modernized graduate engineering programs, provided training to teachers in curriculum modernization, and streamlined community-based engineering education. By inspiring and engaging a broader audience, ENHANCE encouraged the widespread adoption of innovative practices in engineering education. Our holistic approach has nurtured socially conscious, well-prepared engineers.
ENHANCE strengthened the capability of seven HEIs in Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Vietnam, by integrating community-based engineering education into their graduate programs. The primary goal was to prepare upcoming engineers to address real-world issues in partnership with local communities. The project fostered interdisciplinary collaboration, ethical responsibility, and transformative impact in engineering education through the seamless integration of academic learning and community engagement.
<< Background >> ENHANCE strengthened the capability of seven HEIs in Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Vietnam, by integrating community-based engineering education into their graduate programs. The primary goal was to prepare upcoming engineers to address real-world issues in partnership with local communities. The project fostered interdisciplinary collaboration, ethical responsibility, and transformative impact in engineering education through the seamless integration of academic learning and community engagement. << Objectives >> ENHANCE has developed essential attributes for addressing humanitarian challenges. We promoted collaboration, evaluated and modernized graduate engineering programs, provided training to teachers in curriculum modernization, and streamlined community-based engineering education. By inspiring and engaging a broader audience, ENHANCE encouraged the widespread adoption of innovative practices in engineering education. Our holistic approach has nurtured socially conscious, well-prepared engineers. << Implementation >> Within ENHANCE, we consulted academia, students, and industry. Together, we co-created dynamic curricula to address real-world challenges. We provided comprehensive training to teachers in modernizing their teaching methods. We have developed program assessment tools and comprehensive training resources for fostering a multiplier effect on global scale and ensuring long-term project sustainability. We disseminated our outcomes to a wide range of stakeholders through diverse channels and forums. << Results >> ENHANCE achieved transformative results. Through its powerful taxonomy, innovative app and comprehensive training kit, teachers have been equipped for curriculum modernization, leading to 27 transformed engineering programmes, pertaining to 340 revamped courses, impacting over 6000 students annually. The project's extensive reach is evident through 39 events, with over 3500 attendees, and more than 1000 trained teachers. Social media has played a pivotal role in spreading our influence globally.