Design projects are a key element of a CDIO program. These projects may involve students working in groups to design a device or process that meets certain requirements or may involve case studies of existing designs. Most such design projects involve devices geared to the needs of so-called “developed” countries. However, there appears to be good academic reasons to expose engineering students to the special considerations that must be taken into account when working in or with “developing” countries in the design of devices or processes to meet the needs of such countries.
Projects for this purpose can illustrate the particular difficulties and constraints involved in engineering related problems in “developing” countries. They can be useful in developing an understanding of the importance of using indigenous knowledge and in illustrating the need to work with people from other professions. In preparing students for work with “developing” countries it is necessary to have available a series of projects and case studies.
The present paper discusses some of the considerations that enter into the selection of suitable projects and cases and describes a few typical examples. Some discussion of how these can be incorporated into an undergraduate engineering program is also presented.