Kota Samarahan, December 8, 2024- The much-anticipated HackWknd Samarahan 2024 took place at the Faculty of Computer Science and IT (FCSIT), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) from December 6 to December 8 2024.
This 45-hour hackathon challenge brought together innovators, coders, and designers to explore the theme “AI for Education”, aiming to leverage artificial intelligence to transform the educational landscape.
The event, held at the CoDe Lab and UNIX Lab, saw the enthusiastic participation of 50 students from various Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), including UNIMAS, Swinburne Sarawak, University Technology Sibu, and UiTM Samarahan.
Organized by the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) in collaboration with Borneo Digital and UNIMAS, the hackathon focused on building solutions that address real-world community challenges through AI.
The student society Pertekma (Persatuan Teknologi Maklumat) played a crucial role in ensuring the smooth execution of the event, which ran continuously for 24 hours across the 3 days.
Participants were given the opportunity to build, connect, and innovate while collaborating with peers and industry experts. The theme, “AI for Education”, aimed to inspire projects that harness AI to enhance teaching and learning experiences.
HackWknd Samarahan 2024 offered attractive prizes for the most innovative and impactful solutions.
The winners were as follows:
- AI Innovation Award (First Place): Team Ballin – RM3,000
- Educational Impact Award (Second Place): Team Spectakuler – RM2,000
- Technical Excellence Award (Third Place): Team Visionaries2.0 – RM1,000
- Best Use of Large Language Model: Team EduSolve – RM500
- Most Accessible Solution: Team Ainspire – RM500
- People’s Choice Award: Team For Fun – RM500
HackWknd Samarahan 2024 provided students with a dynamic platform to enhance critical skills crucial for their future careers.
By participating in this hackathon, students sharpened their critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills as they worked under time constraints to develop innovative solutions.
The 45-hour continuous nature of the hackathon pushed participants to think creatively, adapt quickly, and stay resilient, simulating real-world project deadlines and challenges.
The event encouraged students to apply theoretical knowledge to practical situations, fostering a deeper understanding of AI technologies and their potential applications in education.
By tackling real-world community challenges, students gained valuable experience in identifying problems, brainstorming solutions, and rapidly prototyping their ideas.
This experience not only built their technical competencies but also enhanced their ability to think analytically and solve complex issues.
Participants also had the opportunity to network with industry experts, mentors, and fellow students from different institutions, which is invaluable for their professional development.
This collaborative environment promoted the sharing of ideas, learning from peers, and receiving constructive feedback, helping students to broaden their perspectives.
These interactions prepared students for future teamwork in diverse work environments, a key requirement in the technology and innovation industries.
HackWknd Samarahan 2024 effectively bridged the gap between academia and industry by giving students a taste of real-world project development.
The event’s emphasis on AI solutions for education aligns with current trends in digital transformation, helping students stay relevant in an evolving technological landscape.
Through this experience, participants not only improved their technical skills but also developed soft skills such as time management, communication, and presentation abilities – all of which are critical for success in today’s job market.
This year’s HackWknd underscored the role of AI in education, providing students with hands-on experience in solving educational challenges.
The event’s success highlights the vibrant tech community in Sarawak and the potential for AI-driven solutions to revolutionize learning.
For more information and registration for future events, visit: http://hackwknd.sarawak.digital.
AI Innovation Award (First Place): Team Ballin – RM3,000
FCSIT is one of the Premier Digital Tech Institutions endorsed by Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC)
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