Kickstarting a decade of ethical transformation for engineering

Engineers Without Borders UK, a movement to put global responsibility at the heart of engineering, has launched its latest strategy to radically change the current culture in the engineering sector in order to ensure a safe and just future for all.

As an organisation, Engineers Without Borders UK will be accelerating its efforts to inspire, upskill and drive change within the sector –- engaging 500,000 practising and student engineers by 2030. Through workshops, the highly successful university Design Challenges, corporate partnerships and advocacy, Engineers Without Borders UK intends to bring globally responsible engineering to the mainstream.

The strategy also calls for those in the sector to make a commitment to the four key principles of globally responsible engineering – transforming how engineers, at both an individual and organisational level, practice their profession:

1. Responsible. To meet the needs of all people within the limits of our planet. This should be at the heart of engineering.     

2. Purposeful. To consider all the impacts of engineering, from a project or product’s inception to the end of its life. This should be at a global and local scale, for people and planet.

3. Inclusive. To ensure that diverse viewpoints and knowledge are included and respected in the engineering process.

4. Regenerative. To actively restore and regenerate ecological systems, rather than just reducing impact.

Emma Crichton, Head of Engineering at Engineers Without Borders UK, said: “We urgently need to balance the needs of all people with the needs of our planet. Engineering continues to rely on unsustainable methods and research shows how engineering education need to adapt, including education within our profession at large. We urgently need to act to ensure a safe and just future for all.

“Our new strategy will provide the inspiration and tools to mainstream globally responsible engineering by embedding these principles across education and industry. It is an ambitious strategy but the scale of the challenge demands this. By bringing together thousands of people and organisations, we will develop unstoppable momentum towards achieving social and environmental justice through engineering.”

The full strategy can be found HERE.