Wonderwall

From waste to worth, engineering students have their eyes on a sustainable future in the Engineers Without Borders UK challenge.

The next generation of engineers demonstrated the power of globally responsible design in the 2025 Engineering for People Design Challenge, which invites university students to rethink the role of engineering in society and design solutions centred around the needs of communities.

This year’s participants tackled real-world issues in Makers Valley – a vibrant but under-resourced neighbourhood in Johannesburg, South Africa – where complex challenges such as high unemployment, infrastructure decay and urban inequality intersect with rich community activism and entrepreneurship.

Noluthando Mdayi, Joint CEO of Makers Valley Partnership, said: “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.”

Almost 10,000 students from universities across the UK and Ireland participated in this year’s challenge. They were supported by immersive resources including video case studies and interviews with local residents.

The top 36 teams earned a place at the Grand Finals, where they pitched their ideas to expert judges, networked with peers and professionals and took part in workshops designed to inspire globally responsible engineering.

First Place: University of Warwick – BrikCycle

The winning team from the University of Warwick developed BrikCycle – a low-tech, high-impact solution that transforms unrecyclable plastic waste into interlocking construction bricks. The modular design requires no mortar, reduces material usage and improves insulation, while also generating employment and promoting a circular local economy.

The team’s proposal impressed judges with its simplicity, scalability and deep alignment with local needs and opportunities.

“We learn a lot of theory in university, but when it comes to actually applying that we don’t have much opportunity. 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. It is really motivating,” said Hamed Khan, University of Warwick.

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

Voted for by the public, the University of Sheffield’s proposal tackled water insecurity through a comprehensive system combining gravity-fed infrastructure, pipe restoration and rainwater harvesting. A key feature of the design was community involvement: training and employing local residents to install and maintain the system while building water conservation awareness.

The Grand Finals marked the culmination of months of student-led innovation; however, for many this experience is just the beginning. In an independent evaluation, 91% of participants said the challenge broadened their understanding of globally responsible engineering, while 83% feel more confident addressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals as a result.

Reaching more than 100,000 students across 50 universities worldwide, the Engineering for People Design Challenge continues to transform how engineering is taught and practised, embedding global responsibility into the heart of the profession.

Further reading

• Find out more about BrikCycle at b.link/CS_BrikCycle
• Find out more about WADR at b.link/CS_WADR
• Read more about the independent evaluation of the challenge at b.link/EPDC_impactreport
• Find out more about the Engineers Without Borders UK student challenge at b.link/EWB_design