Engineering students worldwide invited to design with coastal communities in Peru

Engineers Without Borders UK has launched the sixteenth edition of the Engineering for People Design Challenge, an international educational programme that has engaged more than 115,000 students since it began in 2011.

Developed in collaboration with Engineers Without Borders South Africa and Peruvian NGO EcoSwell, this year’s challenge focuses on Lobitos, Piedritas and Sichez: three neighbouring communities connected by the newly developed Costanera Road in the Piura region of northern Peru.

The 75-kilometre road aims to improve connections between coastal communities and support tourism, fishing and trade. Alongside these opportunities, its development raises important questions about access to essential services, environmental protection, infrastructure and how growth can reflect the priorities of local people.

Through the challenge, university students across seven countries will draw on insights shared by people living and working in the area to develop engineering concepts that could improve livelihoods while regenerating environmental systems.

Exploring interconnected challenges

The Costanera corridor is home to artisanal fishing, livestock farming, surf tourism and a diverse coastal ecosystem. Its communities also experience water scarcity, uneven access to infrastructure and basic services, ecological vulnerability and the effects of a long-established oil industry.

The region’s normally arid climate leaves communities particularly vulnerable to the intense rainfall, flooding and landslides associated with coastal El Niño events, which are becoming increasingly variable and unpredictable.

Students will explore these interconnected issues through eight challenge areas: the built environment, digital, energy, food, sanitation, transport, waste and water. Twelve case studies featuring local residents and professionals will help them understand the area through the experiences, knowledge and aspirations of the people who live there.

"Engineering decisions are never purely technical: they shape people’s lives, local economies and the environments on which communities depend. This challenge asks students to engage with that complexity from the beginning," said Tom Whitehead, education and skills lead at Engineers Without Borders UK. "By listening to different perspectives and considering how challenges are interconnected, students will develop the skills and judgement needed to create engineering solutions that work for both people and the planet."

EcoSwell has worked with coastal and rural communities in northern Peru since 2013, supporting locally led projects spanning renewable energy, public health, water and sanitation, reforestation and ocean protection.

"Being able to reach so many students and encourage them to think beyond the technical aspects of a project is incredibly important. It’s about developing that global perspective, considering the social context and understanding how engineering projects can affect communities," stated Andres Bustamante, co-founder and director at EcoSwell. "Being able to share our work and give students a glimpse into the communities we work with is really exciting for us. We get to see where their imagination and hard work take them, and how they respond to these real-world challenges." 

Preparing students for real-world engineering

Now delivered in Ireland, Mexico, Nepal, the Netherlands, South Africa, the USA and the UK, the Engineering for People Design Challenge is embedded within participating universities’ engineering curricula.

For many students, it is their first opportunity to apply their technical knowledge to a complex real-world context. Rather than seeking a single “correct” answer, the programme encourages students to investigate how social, environmental and economic factors interact and to make considered decisions about the direction of their projects.

The strongest submissions from each university will be reviewed by industry professionals and community representatives. Selected teams will then present their work at national and global Grand Finals, competing for the First Prize, Second Prize and People’s Prize.

In 2025/26, the challenge engaged more than 13,800 students, with 95.7% agreeing that it had broadened their understanding of globally responsible engineering.

Course leaders can learn more and register their interest at www.ewb-uk.org/upskill/design-challenges/engineering-for-people-design-challenge/

The Engineering for People Design Challenge is made possible through the support of Anglo American Foundation, Cundall, discoverIE, Ramboll, Richter, Trimble, The Frank Jackson Foundation, Pretzl, and RS Group. To explore partnership opportunities, contact [email protected].