Human needs, sustainable solutions: Student engineers take the stage

What happens when student engineers are challenged to rethink how engineering serves communities? At the 2025 Grand Finals of the Engineering for People Design Challenge, innovation, empathy, and a drive for social impact took centre stage.

This year’s design context

The 2024/25 edition of the Engineering for People Design Challenge, delivered in partnership with Makers Valley Partnership and Engineers Without Borders South Africa, invited students to explore Makers Valley, a vibrant but under-resourced neighbourhood on the eastern edge of Johannesburg. Home to around 46,000 people, Makers Valley is a community rich in creativity, activism and entrepreneurial spirit, yet it faces complex challenges, including high unemployment and urban decline.

“We hope for a city that is safe and secure for all, where the voiceless are heard, where the environment is cared for, and where there are opportunities for thriving, not just surviving. [These] innovative ideas and engineering skills can make a lasting impact, helping to shape a future where everyone in Makers Valley can thrive.”

– Noluthando Mdayi, Joint CEO of Makers Valley Partnership

Supported by a detailed written brief, video case studies, and an interactive map of the area, students were encouraged to engage with the voices of local residents and organisations to understand the social, environmental and economic context. Through this immersive learning experience, they developed sustainable engineering solutions to support the community’s vision – tackling issues such as access to clean water, green energy, and safe public spaces.

The UK and Ireland Grand Finals

Last week, the top 30 student teams and their educators gathered at Sheffield Hallam University for a day packed with creativity and connection.

The event kicked off with pitching presentations, where teams showcased their designs to a panel of expert judges who evaluated projects based on their social, ethical, environmental, and economic impacts. Alongside the pitches, students participated in an interactive workshop led by RS Group and took part in activities designed to spark idea-sharing and build professional connections.

In the afternoon, the six highest-scoring teams returned to the stage to present their refined solutions. The event also featured keynote speeches from Hector Dibakoane, Joint CEO of Makers Valley Partnership, who shared powerful insights on the value of community, and Dr Shini Somara, a mechanical engineer and award-winning broadcaster and author. 

Shini challenged students to embrace “making a difference through your differences,” highlighting the crucial role diversity plays in driving innovation in engineering. She also emphasised the importance of communication skills, urging engineers to confidently tell their stories and take ownership of their impact to help preserve and elevate the reputation of the profession. Their words set a motivating tone for the announcement of the winners and the close of the Grand Finals.

Introducing the winners

First place: University of Warwick – BrikCycle

This year’s winning team from the University of Warwick impressed the judges with BrikCycle – an innovative, low-tech solution that tackles both plastic waste and affordable housing in Makers Valley.

BrikCycle transforms hard-to-recycle plastic into modular, interlocking bricks that require no mortar, improving insulation while reducing material use. Designed to be simple, scalable, and community-powered, the solution allows bricks to be manufactured using locally sourced waste and equipment, creating employment opportunities and reducing environmental impact.

By aligning with local initiatives and proposing partnerships with businesses like Zhauns, the team’s vision goes beyond technical ingenuity, offering a blueprint for a circular, inclusive local economy.

“We learn a lot of theory in university. But when it comes to actually applying that, we don’t have much opportunity. And so, coming to this challenge and having that opportunity has been great […] Working with your group to present what you think matters to the world is a really motivational thing to do.”

– Hamed Khan, University of Warwick

Second place: University of East Anglia – The People’s Pad Project

Taking second place, the team from the University of East Anglia developed The People’s Pad Project – a powerful initiative that combines menstrual health education with circular economy principles to empower women and promote sustainability in Makers Valley.

At the heart of the project are community-led workshops where participants learn to make reusable menstrual pads. The workshops also serve as spaces for learning around hygiene, waste reduction, and water management – all while fostering entrepreneurship and local employment.

By incorporating recycled PET fabric from the ‘Pik-It-Up’ Bottle 2 Fibre scheme, the project further reduces environmental impact. Scalable and rooted in community ownership, The People’s Pad Project is a compelling example of engineering that meets human needs with dignity and creativity.

People’s Prize: University of Sheffield – Water Access, Distribution and Restoration

Voted for by the public, the People’s Prize went to the University of Sheffield for their bold and practical approach to addressing water insecurity in Makers Valley.

Their proposal combined large-scale infrastructure with grassroots action: a two-million-litre gravity-fed water tower, restoration of ageing underground pipes, and household-level rainwater harvesting systems. The team placed strong emphasis on community ownership – training and employing local residents to install and maintain infrastructure, while also raising awareness around water usage and conservation.

The journey continues

The Grand Finals mark the culmination of months of dedicated work – but they’re also just the beginning of a journey towards more thoughtful, community-centred engineering. Each year, the Engineering for People Design Challenge empowers thousands of students to see engineering differently: as a force for good that responds to real community needs. 

Now having reached over 100,000 students across 50 universities worldwide, the programme is building a generation of engineers who are not only technically capable, but also socially and environmentally conscious. 

91% of participants say it has broadened their understanding of globally responsible engineering, and 83% feel more confident addressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

For educators, it’s a powerful, ready-made way to embed meaningful learning and real-world impact into the curriculum.

“It’s such a well designed programme, which makes it very easy to bring into our course. [Engineers Without Borders UK] provide such great materials.”

– Educator at Colorado State University

Early bird registration for the 2025 programme closes next Friday 4 July. Join the growing community of universities transforming engineering education and help shape a profession that truly puts people and planet first. Register now or visit our webpage to find out more.