In 2014 Arup ran a student competition with EWB-UK. Students came up with concepts for what makes water supply networks / water sanitation networks / flood mitigation resilient against future challenges and climate change in developing countries and presented their ideas in a poster and report. The best entry won the student a paid six-week placement with the Arup Water Group in Leeds.

This collaboration comes as part of Arup’s strategic partnership with EWB-UK, and follows the success of the Resilient Cities competition in 2012. In 2012, Karol Yanez won a summer placement with the International Development group in London after her poster about Oaxaca City in Mexico caught the attention of the judges.

The competition this year was open to all UK students and provided a chance for undergraduates to apply their knowledge and skills to real issues facing developing countries. Students needed to think outside the box and use problem solving and logical thinking to relate their ideas in a development context, helping to apply their taught theory to a real engineering problem.

The competition raises awareness of EWB-UK to students across the UK. It aids in the development of students with an interest in international development so that they may become skilled and knowledgeable engineers who may carry on the work of EWB-UK in the future.

Running a student competition through EWB-UK enables Arup to work with students who already share in Arup’s principles and beliefs; aiding in their development, encouraging their creativity and stimulating their enthusiasm for real world engineering projects.