The Peugeot Center Model and Mentoring Explored through a Case Study of the Design and Installation of a Potable Water System in Guatemala with ADICAY

Abstract

At the Peugeot Center for Engineering Service in Developing Communities at Lipscomb University, seventeen years of experience have provided the foundation for a program that creates lasting impact. In comparison to other service learning or humanitarian engineering programs, the Peugeot Center is unique in that it achieves substantial impact on students, communities, and engineering professionals. This paper describes the model and mentoring employed by the Peugeot Center with supporting examples from a recent project. The case study describes a potable water system that was designed by a team of students, a professional engineer, and a partnering organization in Guatemala called ADICAY. Though the professional engineer and ADICAY supported the overall design work, the students supported the project by completing a site survey, designing the piping layout, and leading the onsite construction. Through mentoring from the professional engineer, the students developed skills in project management, teamwork, communication, and ethical decisionmaking. The professional engineer noted the opportunity to use their engineering skills to serve others as a primary reason for involvement. By partnering with ADICAY, the students learned about 2 2022: VOLUME 10 ISSUE 1 ADVANCES IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION The Peugeot Center Model and Mentoring Explored through a Case Study of the Design and Installation of a Potable Water Systemthe complex cultural, social, economic, and environmental impacts of their engineering work. The installed system provides potable water to 113 household taps in a rural Mayan community. A medical clinic held before and after the installation of the water system showed a reduction in water-borne illness diagnoses from 40% to 11%. Additionally, data from the clinic showed a lower rate of waterborne illness diagnoses in Setzimaaj (11%) compared to surrounding communities without potable water (33%). Overall, the success of the project is attributed to significant mentoring as well as the deep trust that was built in these partnerships. Lessons learned and best practices for employing a model similar to the Peugeot Center's are reflected throughout the paper.

Creating Inclusive Engineers through Humanitarian Engineering: Quantitative Results from a Survey

“…The humanitarian engineering program, also known as the Peugeot Center, at Lipscomb University has nearly 20 years of history providing for a wealth of alumni with experiences stemming from those projects. The program is well-known for its substantial impact on the communities it works with and its holistic approach to projects which is documented in [15]. Most students who participate in Peugeot Center projects do so as an extracurricular activity though some projects are now integrated into coursework.…”

“…Note that any students involved with extracurricular Peugeot Center projects complete significant training around culture, ethics, teamwork, and communication in preparation for the travel alongside the project work itself but there is no specific emphasis on DEI. More details of the Peugeot Center and the HEPs completed through this program can be found in [15].…”

“…Using a case study as the methodological approach, Reynante illustrates some of the characteristics and learning processes required for students to shift from a 'design-for-charity' mindset to 'design-for-justice'. Connecting to this study, the humanitarian engineering program under investigation practices many of these 'design-for-justice' approaches already, some of which are described in [15]. Building from these works, this project intends to further investigate the connections between humanitarian engineering, professional formation, and views of diversity, equity, and inclusion.…”