Engineering is rarely a solo endeavour. The most impactful solutions emerge when people from different backgrounds, disciplines, and perspectives come together to tackle complex challenges. That spirit of collaboration was at the heart of the UK Chapter Design Challenge, which wrapped up earlier this month.
Led by our Student Chapter network, this new competition brought participants together across the nationwide community to co-create solutions, learn from one another, and put globally responsible engineering into practice in a real-world setting.
Back in October, at the annual Building Community Leaders event, students made one thing clear: they want more live opportunities to collaborate across Chapters. This Challenge was a response to that – not just a chance to showcase skills, ideas, and technical solutions but a celebration of the incredible work Chapters have been delivering all year.
A real-world challenge
Students were tasked with improving the built environment in Govan, Glasgow – a location chosen for its urgent housing and community space challenges. With Scotland currently facing a housing emergency, the brief was both timely and relevant. The goal was to develop people-centred solutions that balanced social, economic, and environmental factors, encouraging participants to think beyond just technical fixes.
From concepts to competition
The month-long challenge culminated in a Finals event, hosted by Chapter members at the University of Warwick. Huge credit goes to the Warwick team, who played a vital role in the event’s success – from logistics to guest management.
“It was an absolute honour to host such a fantastic event at our university and to meet so many Chapters from across the UK, along with other Student Champions. There’s something truly special about seeing different Chapters come together, sharing similar experiences, and at the same time drawing inspiration from one another to improve and grow. That kind of exchange is invaluable, and it’s a powerful reminder that none of us are alone in this – we are part of a strong, supportive network that is always willing to help each other.”
– Laiba Wahab, University of Warwick Chapter President
The judging panel featured individuals from across the engineering system, including Mairéad Reid, a former University of Glasgow Chapter President now working in industry, Dr. Modupe Jimoh from the University of Warwick’s Humanitarian Engineering department, and our very own Tim Wilson, Universities and Partnership Lead at Engineers Without Borders UK.
Our Student Champion network also stepped up to the plate, helping to judge the pitching rounds and managing participant networking. The Finals event was a collaboration in every sense, bringing together various branches of our student network.
A winning vision
The morning saw teams pitch their ideas in small judging groups, followed by rapid-fire Q&A sessions. After deliberation, seven finalists were chosen.
Following a closely contested final pitching session, City, St. George’s University of London took home the top prize, with Warwick finishing as runners-up.
City’s winning idea – a multi-purpose community hub and outdoor walking trail proposed for the Govan Graving Docks – stood out for its practicality and ease of implementation. It showcased a deep consideration of the key principles of global responsibility and proved that straightforward ideas can sometimes have the most profound impact.
“As a team of four – three designers and one engineer – we each brought different perspectives to the table, blending human-centred design with engineering. Every one of us played an integral role in making this project possible, combining technical feasibility, creative problem-solving, and user-centred thinking to shape a solution that was both innovative and impactful. This pushed us to think beyond just technical solutions and focus on what really works for the community.”
– Ho Kei Leung, Challenge participant from City, St. George’s University of London
The judges were particularly impressed by the team’s ability to present their ideas in an accessible, compelling way – highlighting that clear communication can be just as critical as technical expertise when working on projects with a community focus.
“The proposal from City, St George’s came out on top due to the strong community focus, practical sustainability solutions, and clear implementation plan. Their integration of heritage and emphasis on social impact were also key. The judges were impressed by their holistic approach and the clarity of their presentation.”
– Mairéad Reid, Challenge Judge and Graduate Electrical Project Engineer at Freedom
The afternoon also brought moments of celebration and inspiration with spotlight presentations from Heriot-Watt and Loughborough University, where newer Chapters gained insights from more experienced members.
Building momentum
Being part of a Chapter means being part of something bigger – engineering with purpose, driving real impact, and shaping a more sustainable future.
As we set our sights to the future, we have ambitious plans to expand engagement with our vibrant, energetic national student network. If you’re a Chapter member with ideas on how we can do just that, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch at jonathan.guna@ewb-uk.org.
For anyone thinking about joining or starting a Chapter, we encourage you to grab the opportunity with both hands. Explore our Student Chapters page for more information.
So, get ready for the UK Chapter Design Challenge 2026 – it’s only going to get bigger and better from here!
Jonny Guna, University Programmes Coordinator at Engineers Without Borders UK
