This program, while offered by EPICS at Purdue, is open to any student across campus! EPICS is a service-learning design program in which teams of students partner with local and global community organizations to address human, community, and environmental needs.
The project partner for this study abroad team is Freedom Solutions Australia. Freedom Solutions Australia is a not-for-profit organization that began as TAD (Technical Aid to the Disabled) in 1975. Since then, Freedom Solutions Australia has helped change the lives of people with disabilities by creating custom assistive technology equipment. With 50 years of experience, their team is skilled in designing and building assistive technology that fit the users’ unique needs. There will also be visits to Swinburne University and the University of Sydney.
This study abroad program will support a year-round EPICS team by meeting with project partner representatives and their partner universities to gather project requirements, build relationships, advance the projects, and ultimately deliver useful solutions for their clients. For more information on the project, please contact the program leader.
Proposed Itinerary: Subject to change due to availability
May 14- Departure from the USA
May 15-Travel day
May 16- Arrival in Melbourne, group transfer to the hotel, day to rest, Welcome dinner
May 17-EPICS class session, Introduction to Design, afternoon visit to the Melbourne Zoo, free evening
May 18-Project partner meeting with Freedom Solutions Australia, Project work followed by a visit to the Queen Victoria Market, free evening
May 19-EPICS class session, CAD fundamentals and project work session, Visit to Swinburne University, Biomedical/MedTech engineering group, possible mixer with Swinburne students
May 20-Melbourne Great Ocean Road to the Twelve Apostles, all day excursion
May 21-Project partner meeting with Freedom Solutions, design review and project work session, free evening
May 22-Flight to Sydney, transfer to hotel and free evening
May 23-Free day to explore Sydney
May 24-Project partner meeting, afternoon project work session, Performance at the Sydney Opera House or tour.
May 25-Sydney-Blue Mountains full day excursion
May 26-Project work session, afternoon visit to the University of Sydney, evening possible mixer with U of Sydney students
May 27-Project work session, Industry tour, free evening
May 28-Project partner meeting, free afternoon, Farewell dinner
May 29-Check out of hotel and return flight to the USA