UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
ENGINEERS IN ACTION:
STUDENT CHAPTER
Frequently Asked Questions
What does UofA Engineers in Action do?
The UofA Engineers in Action chapter works to improve the standard of living of rural communities in developing countries. In the past, we have worked on multiple footbridge projects to connect isolated communities to services. Engineers in Action is also involved with providing clean water to similar communities, our chapter is working with the organization to hopefully join on a clean water project in the future.
Where do you travel?
The UAlberta chapter has travelled to Bolivia for all of our previous bridge projects. EIA has also completed projects in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) and we may travel there or another developing country in the future. Projects take place in rural communities where reliable access to services like schools, hospitals and markets is unavailable.
How much does it cost to travel?
To complete a project, our chapter has to provide a large sum of money to EIA, up to 25,000 USD. We obtain this money through personal fundraising, corporate sponsorships, and events throughout the year. Students who are on the travel team are expected to pay for their own flights, meals and other travel expenses, there are scholarships available to assist in these costs.
How can I get involved?
There are many ways to get involved with our club. Within our club there are committees that assist in all aspects of our projects. These include: fundraising, design, finance and campus events.
If you are interested in becoming involved please send us an email at eia@ualberta.ca!
What qualifications do I need to join?
None! We welcome everyone to join! However, getting involved with EIA is a good opportunity to build valuable skill sets including, but not limited to, design and construction, project management and international development.
What kinds of positions are available?
We are currently recruiting members for our design team and our fundraising committee. The design team is in charge of learning the EIA bridge design process and applying those principles to designing the bridge for that year’s site. The fundraising committee organizes various events, such as crowdfunding campaigns, educational workshops, our beloved Samosa sales and other fundraisers! And if you have any new ideas, join our team and let us know!