Humanitarian Technology Summer Internship

Co-organised by LEI and the Centre for Global Engineering (CGEN) of The University of Toronto, the Humanitarian Technology Summer Internship (HTSI) is a Hong Kong-based program that assembles young innovators to develop technology and services to address unmet needs affecting communities at the Base of the Pyramid (BoP). Students will engage in authentic problem-solving by collaborating with field partners in developing countries and social workers in cities that serve the underprivileged.

What is Humanitarian Technology?

Humanitarian Technology (HT) encompasses a wide range of products and solutions that prioritize environmental sustainability, economic viability, and cultural appropriateness. HT leverages advanced technologies that are readily accessible to the public, ensuring that the final solution is affordable, scalable, and serviceable in remote regions. HT transcends the boundaries of high-tech and low-tech solutions, encompassing various technologies such as machine learning algorithms, low-orbit satellites, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices, provided they adhere to the aforementioned criteria.

Our team at Lingnan University has developed award-winning innovations that exemplifies HT: https://www.ln.edu.hk/lei/humanitarian-technology

What will interns do?

Interns from various universities and disciplines worldwide will collaborate with engineers, designers, and other professionals for 6 weeks on one or more of their preferred projects. HTSI is structured similarly to capstone projects (or final-year projects), where interns work in teams under the supervision of their project supervisors. While interns will receive in-house technical support, they should anticipate minimal supervision in their daily tasks. Weekly meetings will be held for all interns and teams to report their progress. 

Additionally, interns have the option to participate in field exploration trips during the 6-week programme. These trips typically last between 1 to 2 weeks and are co-organised by university partners in the hosting country (e.g. Philippines, India, Indonesia, Thailand, etc.). During these trips, interns will have the chance to meet with field project partners and target users, gaining a deeper understanding of the problems they are addressing and the communities they are serving.

Some of the past and current projects include:

• Climate adaptive baby incubator
• Carer-driven electric wheelchairs
• Trisikad (tricycle) for flood fond Philippines
• Portable water testing module for rural emergencies
• Transparent filtration masks for lip-reading population

More info on the exploration trips can be found here: https://www.ln.edu.hk/lei/participatory-programmes/JHTIEA

Who should join the programme?

Students (undergraduate and postgraduate) genuinely interested in improving the lives of people living at the Base of Pyramid, eager to develop practical solutions, or aspiring to pursue a career in the humanitarian or global development sector are welcome to apply. 

HTSI is an interdisciplinary programme - students from engineering, public health, computer science and design may find it easier to apply their skills to the projects quickly. However, students from social work and other non-STEM disciplines have also made significant contributions in the past. 

Application

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