Helping the less fortunate

It all started with Bryan Hobbs, a former lecturer from the Temasek Engineering School. When his cousin became a quadriplegic after an accident, Bryan wanted to do something to help him and other disabled people. As a result, Bryan initiated this community project, so that students can use the skills learned from the course to help the less fortunate in society.

The Keys to success

According to Bryan, for a project to be successful, it is important that the students have internal motivation. For instance, a group of students were reading about the risk of flight passengers suffering from deep vein thrombosis. Commonly known as the economy-class syndrome, this is where blood-clots form in the calf area due to prolonged sitting. This prompted the group of students to initiate a project to develop a footrest that helps reduce this risk.

The key players involved in the projects are not only students, but supervisors, clients and suppliers too. Besides having a group of zealous and determined students, it is equally important to have a project supervisor with practical experience in the technology, a client who is able to explain his/her needs, and a supplier with reliable key components. All of these people are needed to make a good project. That being said, the projects don't always run smoothly. There are always risks that may undermine success.

All-rounded Learning

The most valuable thing is that students learn and acquire skills by dealing with the problems they encounter during the process. To quote Bryan "There is a lot of learning involved in a project. The students develop problem-solving skills and they can think out of the box. As they have to work with doctors and medical personnel who are not familiar with engineering, they also develop communication skills."