Global Development vs. Global Engagement: A Contextual Perspective From the Field

Engineer and University of Illinois instructor Ann-Perry Witmer argued that international development engineering too often imposes industrialized-world values, knowledge and technology on rural communities. She proposed "contextual engineering," reframing "developing" societies as "alternately developed" and clients as partners, and described a 41-question assessment tool weighing political, economic, cultural, educational and technical influences, adopted by Engineers Without Borders USA. Field examples came from Honduras, Guatemala, Bolivia, the Dominican Republic, Senegal and Cameroon. A question-and-answer period with audience members, including a former student, closed the hour.