Giving back to the community

The program encourages student’s active participation in community engagement. By the end of their 2nd year every student will have demonstrated commitment to the community and motivation to further take action of positive impact. 

Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” — Barack Obama

The McCall MacBain Leadership Development Program aims to develop a community of responsible and highly motivated future leaders, equipped with skills that will enable them to contribute substantially to societal challenges. We ask the students to participate or initiate a project / activities that shows their involvement in the community that can help to bring positive impact.

Examples such as:

  • Joining the Zero Emission association on campus and be involved in activities to raise awareness about climate change.
  • Starting a group working with local community on improving gender equality
  • Participating in a theater group offering free workshops for local children to inspire creativity and imagination

The Final Project

Starting from the 2nd year, at least two meetings with the Project Manager are required in order to discuss your proposed projects or activities for community engagement.

By the end of the 2nd year of the program, the students will need to hand in their final project which includes:

– A minimum two-page written report and the workshop outline sheet on the projects or activities you have joined/started which demonstrates the elements of community engagement (other creative forms of presentation also possible)

– A final meeting with the Project Manager

– Presentation of your project to the group

Resources at EPFL

Here are some of the inspiring resources in the EPFL community, because the changes start from now, around you!

Pre-university weeks for high school students

The pre-university weeks for high school students designed by EPFL is a perfect way to anchor science and technology in the general knowledge of future students. There are many ways to participate in these activities including being a student assistant, involving in the preparation of different activities, advising the young students on their future path of interest of study, etc.

The pre-university weeks include spring, summer, and autumn schools with program such as Nature, in code, Sustainability, Théorie des jeux et intelligence artificielle, Your own mobile robot, etc.


Please consult the web page for full list of programs.

STEM activities for children, teenagers, school classes and the general public – These EPFL organized events aim to promote science and technology for children and for the general public. Students can help to contribute to the next generation of scientists, technicians and engineers in Switzerland.  Activities include becoming a mentor at the coding club for girls. 

  • Information Day  – Managing a booth for the leadership development program
  • Be a EPFL representatives at high schools – Promoting the spirit of citizen science and raise awareness
  • MAKE Project – Participating in student projects that make a positive impact
  • Ingenieur.e.s du Monde – Raising awareness of being responsible engineers for a fair and sustainable world by taking part in the organized events, internship and articles.
  • Zero emisson group – Becoming a facilitator for La fresque du climat / numerique
  • Alter – Contributing to the EPFL student blog
  • Unipoly – Joining this student association working for a social ecology at EPFL and UNIL
  • Be a mentor to encourage interest in science amount young teens
  • EPFL Campus Ambassador – interactive campus and lab tour
  • Your own project, could also be a larger scale initiative with other members in the cohort

FAQs

Find answers to the most frequently asked questions here.

You can present a solo project, with some other members from the group or with other groups outside of EPFL. Creativity is highly encouraged!

Of course! We will try to arrange zoom sessions for the workshops (if condition and time difference allow.)

Yes, except for specific reasons which need to be discussed and approved by the Program Manager. 

Please note the student’s participation in the program is only considered completed upon the submission of the project that meets the satisfaction level of the program requirement. The project needs to be approved by the Program Manager.

Contact

For further information, please contact us:

[email protected]


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