The uplift of globalization and the implementation of cutting-edge technology have had a drastic effect on engineering education thus the demand for engineers who are not only good technically but also are conscious of the society and community is increasing day by day. The Community Connect course of SRM Institute of Science and Technology is conceptualized under the Challenge Based Learning (CBL) framework to prepare students for social responsibility, ethics, and collaborative problem-solving in the engineering sector. Students are involved in real-world community challenges that encourage technical competence with empathy through interdisciplinary teamwork. Implemented with the ADDIE model, the course was designed as follows: analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation phases, and aligned to CDIO standards 2, 5, 7, and 11. In 2024, 600 students from Computer Science, Electronics and Communication, Electrical and Electronics, and Mechanical Engineering disciplines successfully completed 115 community engagement projects that address societal challenges aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The projects were a combination of the development of students' CDIO skills, and the accentuation of the ethics in the practice and service of the engineering. The assessments revealed a considerable step forward in their higher-order thinking skills, teamwork, and practical problem-solving. This paper documents the course design and outcomes toward a model for embedding social responsibility into engineering curricula to meet the changing demands of society.
