­­Engineers Without Borders – Glasgow University (EWB-GU) is a student society focused on International Development and the role that technology can play in alleviating poverty.

Along with our parent organisation, Engineers Without Borders UK (EWB-UK), we provide opportunities for young people in the UK to learn about technology's role in tackling poverty and work on projects around the globe. We support EWB-UK’s vision of “a world where access to technology or infrastructure is not a barrier to poverty alleviation”.

It is important to point out that EWB-GU is not just for engineers, though we can’t change the name; for all its triumphs, technology alone cannot solve the complex issues of human development. We need to mobilise the next generation of graduates able to tackle the social, geographical, political, and economic barriers to human development, as well as design and engineer appropriate technologies to make it happen.

Our affiliation with EwB-UK (www.ewb-uk.org), a student-led charity with branches across the country, means we get involved with events throughout the UK. Branches form the local focus of EWB-UK’s work, allowing students to get involved at a grassroots level, meet like-minded people and learn more about international development. In Glasgow, we team up with our sister branch at Strathclyde University to raise awareness of development issues, running talks and hands-on workshops such as building wind turbines and water filters. If this sounds like your kind of thing, then get in touch!

The EWB-UK placements programme allows volunteers to apply, and share, their newfound skills with development organisations overseas and in the UK. They are aimed at UK students and recent graduates over the age of 18 who have less than 4 years of technical experience. Placements cover all disciplines, can be as far-flung as Uganda, India and El Salvador, and run for between 3 and 12 months, most beginning in early July.

Whilst the placements that EWB-UK facilitate do require a certain level of technical ability, EWB-GU offers a number of talks and training events open to everyone - it could be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for to expand your knowledge and skill set beyond the scope of your degree discipline. EWB-UK is funded by the Department For International Development and your involvement could open doors to a career with a number of high profile charities and NGO’s.

For more information, fill out our contact page, or subscribe to the mailing list by entering your email address in the box below.