Global Engineering Challenge

By Siddharth Vasudev from Bioengineering

Note: This post was written before the COVID-19 outbreak. Please ensure you follow all the latest guidelines of the government. You can check the University’s updates at sheffield.ac.uk/coronavirus

What is it about and how does it work?

As a 21^st century engineer, the engineering projects you work on are intended to make people’s lives better and that exactly what the Global Engineering Challenge(GEC) is about. GEC is a week long event that every 1^st year engineering student participates in at the beginning of the second semester working on a real life project to impact lives throughout the world.

Each year projects are based in a new country across the world, in the past these have been in India, Kenya, Vietnam, Nepal and several other developing countries. The aim is to engineer solutions to help bring a better life to the residents of that area in several different real life aspects such as water and waste management, sanitation, efficient transport systems, housing, digital advancements and the built environment (public/social spaces, healthcare facilities, schools, markets etc).

This years location was Maker’s Valley in South Africa. It is acknowledged as a hub of making, and brings together a community of makers and change makers focused on using their hands and their ideas to create positive change.

You work in a cross-faculty group of 6 students and whichever project you do, some elements may not fit directly with your degree discipline, but the goal is to enable you to broaden your skills and knowledge, work alongside students from a range of other disciplines and think outside your specialisation. Over the 5 days you learn several professional methodologies, each day has a new focus and you also do many team building activities to have some fun whilst working on the projects!

Why GEC is so beneficial:

This amazing opportunity helps you to meet new people and learn that it is important to possess teamwork, design, problem-solving, communication skills and global awareness, as well as technical knowledge. The aim of the Sheffield University Global Engineering Challenge Week is to introduce and develop these transferable skills highly valued by employers! Previous participants have stated how beneficial GEC has been in job interviews and to be mentioned on your CV and job/internship applications.

My experience: 

It was one of the most interesting weeks during my course, I got to meet many new people and got to know them better after working together on the project. I also learnt several new skills that are used at the professional level such as concept selections, concept analysis and  risk analysis. My team’s project was to provide digital travel information for the residents of South Africa’s new growing hub- Maker’s Valley. After 5 days of working on the project we came up with the final idea of developing an App to help the residents with information such as journey times, expected time of arrival, traffic, nearest taxis, book taxis and several other features. 

An initial design of the app and its features

It was something I really enjoyed being part of and working together helped our team win both of the prizes at stake: the best communicated solution overall in the hub and the professional behaviors award for our overall idea and presentation of the solution!

The 2 awards that teams compete for!

The next steps allow you to take your teams idea to the ‘Grand Finals’ of the national competition of Engineers Without Borders UK and have a chance to win £2000 and have your solution taken to the next level!

Getting involved In GEC is an amazing experience that all students should enjoy and make the most out of as it gives you the best platform to meet new people and to develop several skills that are beneficial for your career as an engineer!

The amazing team I got to work with over the course of the week!

Meet Our International Engineering Ambassador – Adreena

Greetings to whoever is reading this. My name is Adreena, but if that’s too long, you can call me Add.  I am a 2nd year Civil and Structural Engineering student, born and raised in Malaysia. I especially enjoy eating, actually any kind of dish, just eating in general! Besides enjoying consuming calories, I also enjoy meeting people. Studying in Sheffield has given me the platform to engage with people from all around the world. I feel very blessed.

WHY DID I CHOOSE CIVIL AND STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING?

To me, civil engineering is something that makes me feel that I am in a world which will never end, it only expands and exceeds with new discoveries. Personally, I didn’t know much about the field and it is amazing just how much I have learnt on this course. From tension and compressions, to pipes and wastewater, transportation networks, roadways, railway design, bridges to skyscrapers. I feel that civil engineering is such a huge subject area to cover and it can help you make huge improvements to society and the environment. The modules I have taken have taught me so many things I was eager to learn about.

MORE ABOUT SHEFFIELD

I have been to most of the cities in Yorkshire region and honestly, I would choose Sheffield in the blink of an eye. Sheffield is safe, clean, friendly, convenient, and cheap.  The list goes on and it’s now my home. I love the fact that everything is a stone’s throw away! The city, the park, the market, and even the gym are all within walking distance. If you’re still not convinced that Sheffield is the place for you, continue reading.  If you’re looking for a quiet but not THAT quiet kind of home environment, Sheffield is definitely the place. Have I mentioned Sheffield is cheap? The living expenses here are very affordable! Moreover, our Students’ Union is Number 1 in the UK. This is something I am very proud of as we have the best facilities and it is a very conducive place to study. To all my Muslim brothers and sisters, let me tell you, Sheffield is a very Muslim-friendly city. Halal restaurants are everywhere and certified Halal butchers can also be found at the local market. I hope Sheffield will be an option for you, because honestly choosing this city has been the best decision that I have ever made. See you guys soon!!

Meet Our International Engineering Ambassador – Beatrice Nistor

My name is Beatrice and I am studying Computer Systems Engineering. I am from Romania, Craiova to be precise. I went to high school, specialising in Maths. I have loved maths and science subjects since I was really young due to my grandfather to who I am very grateful. He introduced me to the world of maths; he was always helping me with my homework, even in high school. I participated in lots of competitions, where I won some significant prizes. I remember that I used to be so happy and proud of myself whenever I won something, such a great feeling!

The reason I chose to study engineering is that I wanted to apply my scientific knowledge to the real world. Also, I always had a passion for building things, and for seeing things created  by my own hand. Engineering is a complex field and it involves combining many skills, but it also requires a lot of passion and enthusiasm. So, I felt that I have the skills and passion for it, taking into consideration my educational background. I chose Computer Systems Engineering because it is the bridge between the world of software where you only have to use your mind and the world of hardware where being hands on is more important.

Why did I choose University of Sheffield? Well, that was a bit difficult. When I was in my final year at high school, I was worried because I didn’t know which university would be the best for me and for my future. I did a lot of research about universities around the world, including universities from Romania. I didn’t have a plan to study outside my country. After a lot of research, I found out about University of Sheffield, one of the best universities in the world for engineering, with great laboratories, the best teachers, great night life, and beautiful people and city. It looked like my kind of place. But I also was thinking about going to Politehnica Bucharest, which was closer to home, lots of my friends were going there, and it’s a really good university in Romania too. So, I applied at the University of Sheffield, but also at the university from Bucharest. I got accepted at both of them. I was not expecting this, so I had a hard time choosing. But finally, I decided that I want to something different and challenging, a little bit out of my comfort zone, so I chose Sheffield. I am really glad I made this choice because I’ve met nice people here, and I’ve learnt things that I would never have learned if I was home in the same environment.

Meet Our International Engineering Ambassador – Aditya Singhal

There is always something to chase in life, and that’s what we like to call dreams. We all have goals in life, for someone it may be working at a particular company or to go in the mountains and live the rest of your life, some people want to do something completely different. The question is how can these dreams be accomplished and the answer is simple – you have to do it for yourself.  The University of Sheffield provides me with the perfect place to complete my goals in life. This is a platform which has inspired people like the English songwriter Martin Fry, the novelist Lee child and engineers like Andrew Jackson.

Background

I was born in Delhi, in a country well known for its different cultures. I wanted to choose a place and a university that provides me with a more diverse culture. My father always said that education and experience are both important. So, I wanted  to study in a place that would provide me with a good education but also a place that allows me to talk to people from all walks of life. This would hopefully give me more confidence but also provide me with a feeling of being home from home. The university not only provides me with one of the best Automation and Control courses in the world but it is also a place I can call home.

Why Sheffield?

The University of Sheffield, which is a hub for quality education, offers the best Automation and Control Systems Engineering course and the department is rated highly in the UK. The recent £81 million in The Diamond Building, makes it one of the most technologically advanced buildings in the UK. The Diamond building was a major factor in my final decision to study here. As they say, “A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.” I was lucky and fortunate enough to have been a part of the £2000 Excellence Scholarship Scheme by the University as a gesture of appreciation towards my hard-work and results in school.

My father has always inspired me as he works in the digital software industry and I am currently studying BEng Computer Systems Engineering with a Year in Industry. It is an interdisciplinary course that covers so many different skills that will enable me to thrive in a wide variety of sectors. Doing the year in industry course is a popular option as it provides with an opportunity to work in a corporate environment with highly professional and skilled people.

Being part of prestigious schemes like the International Engineering Ambassador and the Science and Engineering Champion has enabled me to enhance and showcase my skill-sets and helped me in personal development. I’ve interacted and worked with a wide range of people coming from different cultures and traditions being a part of these schemes.

Computing is becoming one of the biggest industries in the world, with almost everything linked up to a computer system. Computer Systems are an ever increasing component of advanced engineering products from the latest smart phone to driverless cars, this degree prepares us for our future careers. The course is designed in such a way that it prepares you for real-life applications. You will study a variety of skills required in computer and software engineering, including: object oriented design, systems engineering and advanced hardware. Laboratory and professional skills are strongly integrated within the taught modules. Apart from the core modules, the course also includes an opportunity to carry out the research of your choice as part of the Global Engineering Challenge week.

The City of Sheffield

Sheffield is the 4th largest city in the UK and is called a student town with more than 35000-40000 students. An important aspect of the ‘Steel City’ is that it is very student friendly and if you are not very wealthy, no worries! The costs of living here is one of the lowest in the UK. The city has a welcoming environment and makes a student like me, living far away from home, very comfortable. The city is surrounded by spectacular countryside, the Peak District is very popular amongst students for picnics and trips.

The university offers a high standard of accommodation and student facilities. The library and computer access facilities, The Diamond and Information Commons contain all the latest books, journals and updated software with huge study spaces. There is a plethora of cafes, restaurants, and food joints around the city too. For me Sheffield is a perfect city as everything I need is located in the city centre where I can to easily on foot. Furthermore, being greeted by the squirrels and greenery in the local parks, whilst walking into lectures, is really exhilarating for me.

All in all, I’d like to say that The University of Sheffield isn’t just another university for education, rather it’s an institution where you’re free to dream and make those dreams come true.

Global Engineering Challenge by Zifa Zuhair

Friday, 13 April 2018

Global Engineering Challenge(GEC) is a week-long program for all the undergraduate engineering students to work together in groups alongside students from different courses. As a first-year chemical engineering student, my lecturers and personal tutor told me about GEC at the beginning of the semester. At the time I couldn’t understand the purpose and importance of it but this became apparent when I actually completed the week.  Based on the feedback from students that had already done it, I decided to invest all my energies into the week.

I selected “Smart Greenhouse” as my priority topic and fortunately it is the one that I was assigned to. topic I wanted. My group had to come up with a feasible concept for a smart greenhouse in Kibera, an unrecognised territory in Kenya, that is facing overpopulation and consequently a shortage of food, as well as numerous other issues. On the face of it, our task seemed almost impossible, after all, it was just after semester one and none of us had much practical engineering experience. Once we thoroughly read the daily task list and the overall objectives, we realised that it was achievable and something we could  excel in, if every team member put enough effort in.

On the first day, we decided to select a daily leader to make ensure each one of us got to test out the reigns and this seemed to run fairly smoothly. However, as the week progressed, it became apparent why the word “Challenge” is in the title. Our group was made up of individuals with very different  personalities, and work ethic. There was a realisation that that this was the kind of environment we would all have to work in the real world of engineering. You do not get a say who your teammates are going to be and any big design ideas had to be shared and approved by each member. All of us had to develop and grow in areas where we may have previously held back before. This was evident when it came to communicate our individual ideas. Having to explain it in detail to the rest of the team proved to be surprisingly harder than it sounds. Giving professional and constructive feedback was almost as crucial as presenting the ideas. You would exercises like this are obvious in theory, but you can only understand this once you have had practical experience in an atmosphere such as GEC.

In order to come up with a smart greenhouse design, we had to consider the factors that we would have otherwise never thought of. After all, just building a greenhouse with smart technology was no good if it did not cater to the needs of the society that it is meant to feed. We had to consider geographical, social, economic and ethical needs and limitations of Kibera. Being an unrecognized territory, meant the statistics about Kiberia, were not readily available. In addition to this,  the validity of the available statistics were even more questionable. Despite many obstacles, we managed to put together our group report and present our final design idea to the judges.

Finally, after a few hours of presenting our solution, came the gratifying moment when our Team won “Best Communicated Solution” in our hub. Knowing all our hard-work and efforts had paid off and seeing the reward for it (glorious chocolate!) it was worth every single 9 to 5 day we had to invest.

However, beyond that, the skills we learnt during GEC were invaluable and it helped us to get into the mindset of being an “engineer” which is something every first-year student looks forward to. I truly believe GEC is a great opportunity for us to take our first steps as future engineers. Now for the dramatic end to this article, here it is. My team’s smart greenhouse in all its glory!

Disclaimer: the 3D concept model isn’t a specification of our GEC task, but a certain member of our team was quite talented in computer modelling so this was just for extra visual panache.