Apply for fall 2025 here!
Info meeting 27th of Auguest here!
About us
Engineers Without Borders (EWB) NTNU is a local student department of EWB Norway, at Campus Gløshaugen, NTNU. We are a group of engaged students with a range of different academic backgrounds, skills and interests. Our common ground is our interest in humanitarian aid, technology and engineering. Throughout the events and projects we organise, we aim to establish bonds between professors, students, technologists and other organizations with a passion for humanitarian aid work.
Structure of our department
EWB NTNU is divided into Connect and GridVille. This site is dedicated to Connect, the department responsible for outreach and projects. For more information on GridVille, who are working on their very own electrical engineering project, check out their website.
Within Connect, we are divided into Events, Projects and PR, and each of those is in turn divided into subgroups with different responsibilities.
The Projects Group (Kompetansegruppa)
The projects group consists of three subgroups, Meaningful Masters', Aid Portal and Plastic Database, who are collectively responsible for many of our more technical activities, and "hands-on" aid work:
Meaningful Masters' (Master med Mening)
The Meaningful Masters’ program was created by EWB Norway to support students who want to combine their master’s degree with meaningful aid work. The idea is to use technical knowledge to help solve real challenges or meet specific needs in developing communities. You can find more information about the program here.
At EWB NTNU, the Meaningful Masters’ group helps make this possible by supporting students in finding supervisors, shaping their project ideas, and building connections with relevant organizations. As a member of this group, you’ll gain valuable insight into how engineering can be used in development work – and how your skills can contribute to building infrastructure and solutions in places with very different needs and conditions.
Aid Portal
Do you enjoy programming or designing websites – and want to use your skills for something meaningful? In the Aid Portal group, you’ll help develop a digital platform that connects students who want to write aid-related theses with professors who have relevant project ideas. The portal also serves as a space for other academic activities linked to humanitarian engineering and development work. As part of the team, you'll contribute to either the design or development of the platform:
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Web developers: Web developers work on building and implementing the platform’s core features. |
Web designers: Web designers focus on creating a clean, intuitive, and user-friendly interface. |
This group requires a bit more technical experience than other subgroups within the Projects Group, especially in programming and web development – but it's a great opportunity to apply and grow your skills while contributing to a project with real impact.
The main focus of the fall 2025 semester will be on web design (frontend development). As we currently do not have the resources to provide extensive training on programming, prior experience with JavaScript and/or TypeScript is required.
Plastic Database
Plastic Database is a sub-group within Engineers Without Borders Norway working to collect and organize knowledge from past and ongoing plastic-related projects – both from EWB and other relevant actors. The goal is to develop a digital platform that makes it easier for volunteers and partners to plan and implement sustainable plastic projects internationally. The platform will include information on recycling methods, products, key success factors, and sustainable business models. In collaboration with volunteers from EWB Norway, the group aims to make EWB’s combined plastic expertise more accessible and useful for fieldwork – both in the short and long term.
A new project?
Should you possess ideas for projects related to humanitarian/sustainable engineering, please inform us via email or in the designated section of the application form below. It is possible that we could bring your vision to life! Projects such as the Aid Portal and GridVille were initiated recently through the passion and innovative ideas of dedicated students, underscoring the realm of possibilities.
The expected workload in the Projects is the group: 4-5 hours each week on average.
The PR Group (Profileringsgruppa)
The PR Group is responsible for making EWB NTNU stand out as a professional and visible local department. This includes graphic design, event promotion, maintaining the website, sending newsletters, and running our social media channels. At EWB NTNU, the PR Group consists of one collaborative subgroup – Graphic & Social Media – where we work together to reach these goals through creative communication and strong visual identity.
The expected workload in the PR group: 4-5 hours each week
The Events Group (Arrangementgruppa)
The Events group work with planning and arranging all events within EWB. The different subgroups are each responsible for other events. As a member of the events group, you learn a lot about administration and planning of events, whilst also learning a lot about different humanitarian organisations and challenges within the field. This group are divided into three subgroups, Missing Maps, Case Bank and EwB Lab:
Missing Maps
The missing maps group arranges recurring events called Mapathons. Several areas in developing countries and communities - especially rural areas - have maps that lack information about specific buildings and infrastructure, which can be crucial in emergencies, E.G. in the case of natural disasters or wars.
In Mapathons, members of EWB and anyone else who wishes to come to gather, to help supply information and data to maps, based on satellite photos of areas where it doesn't already exist. The Missing Maps gropup arrange these events and teach the attendees how to use the software while maintaining the cooperative relationship between The Missing Maps Organization and EWB NTNU.
Casebank
The Casebank group organizes events where NTNU students are presented with real cases from engineers in EWB Norway. Each case is based on an ongoing project, often from field assignments, and calls for creativity, collaboration, and fresh perspectives. Students from all backgrounds, with or without experience, are welcome to join. Whether you're an engineer, a humanitarian, or simply curious, you'll work in groups to explore solutions and learn how engineering can help solve global challenges. No prior knowledge is required. Just bring your ideas and an open mind! Case Bank is a chance to contribute to real development projects, gain insight into EWB’s work, and connect with others in a fun and inspiring setting.
EwB Lab
EwB Lab is a group that organizes workshops, short courses, and inspiring talks throughout the academic year. The focus is on humanitarian engineering, sustainability, and global development. The goal is to offer engaging learning opportunities for students at NTNU, whether through hands-on activities, technical training, or talks by professionals and experts from various fields. Events may be held in collaboration with external organizations or other student groups, and are open to anyone interested. Join to learn new skills, gain insights, and connect with others who want to make a difference through technology and collaboration.
The expected workload in the Events group: 4-5 hours each week
Our Department
The main goal of our department is to offer an extracurricular activity that unites NTNU students across different ages and fields of study and educates them on humanitarian aid through engineering and technology. In addition to this, we also aim to be an arena to make friends outside your own study program, and we arrange a lot of purely social events for our members, like cabin trips, parties, sporting events, board game nights and more!
Since the spring of 2022, EWB NTNU has been an international organization, with English as the official department language, so English fluency is a prerequisite for joining the department. Erasmus+/International students are therefore also invited to submit their applications!
Contact
General inquiries
ntnu
Projects, Meaningful Masters'
org-ntnu
Events and marketing
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