Alliance University hosted a two-day EPICS (Engineering Projects in Community Service) Workshop, bringing together educators, academic leaders, and representatives from participating institutions to explore the role of community engagement in engineering education.

The workshop was led by Dr. William (Bill) Oakes, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education at Purdue University and Former Director of EPICS at Purdue; Mr. Jorge Martinez, Assistant Director, EPICS, Purdue University; and Dr. Kantha Reddy Muthangi, Adjunct Director, EPICS India. The speakers introduced participants to the EPICS approach and shared insights into design thinking, building community partnerships, managing multidisciplinary student teams, and developing sustainable engineering projects.

Interactive sessions and breakout discussions enabled participants to exchange experiences, examine implementation challenges, and share practical approaches to community-engaged learning. The workshop also encouraged institutions to consider how experiential projects can be integrated into engineering curricula in ways that connect technical learning with real community needs.

The program highlighted the importance of preparing engineers who can work collaboratively, understand stakeholder perspectives, and apply their knowledge with social responsibility. It also created opportunities for participating institutions to strengthen professional networks and explore future areas of collaboration.

Alliance University extends its appreciation to Dr. William (Bill) Oakes, Mr. Jorge Martinez, and Dr. Kantha Reddy Muthangi for their guidance and contribution. The University also acknowledges the participation of delegates, institutions, speakers, and organizing teams whose involvement supported the workshop.

The initiative reflected Alliance University’s continued focus on experiential learning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community engagement in engineering education.