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Community Engagement Workshops

EPICS Design Thinking in Community-Engaged Projects Workshop

Summary

To promote global and professional competencies and collaboration between EPICS at Purdue University and its university partners across the globe. EPICS will offer a condensed version of its project-based design course focused on community engagement. Participants will partner with a community organization to design a solution addressing a problem, initiative, or need important to the project partner and the community it serves.

This three-week educational tourism event introduces participants to project-based design activities at Purdue University while they explore West Lafayette, Indiana, and U.S. culture.

Date and Location

May 26 – June 12, 2026
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN (USA)
7:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (EST)

Registration

  • Cost: $5,000 USD per student
  • Limited to 20 undergraduate students
  • Valid U.S. tourist visa (B1/B2) required
  • Register here

Fee Includes

  • Lodging at Purdue University (West Lafayette)
  • Three meals per day
  • Cultural and educational activities on and off campus

Program Outcomes and Activities

  • Learn principles of design thinking and community engagement
  • Apply the user-centered design process
  • Develop innovative thinking approaches
  • Identify stakeholders and community needs
  • Benchmark and evaluate preliminary ideas
  • Develop budgets and project plans
  • Create low-fidelity prototypes and proofs of concept
  • Explore detailed design considerations (risk, trade-offs, optimization, safety, empathy)
  • Iterate designs based on partner feedback
  • Participate in design reviews
  • Tour selected Purdue facilities
  • Visit industry and business sites
  • Explore local amenities and nearby cities

Read about last year’s experience

Additional Information

Already registered? For additional program information, contact epics-university@purdue.edu.

Purdue is committed to making its programs accessible to individuals with disabilities. If you require accommodations or special assistance, please contact confreg@purdue.edu.

Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity university.