The First Hackathon: Technology and Creativity Meet
The first ever Hackathon event was held in collaboration with the Cyprus International University (CIU) School of Applied Sciences and the Software Development Office. The event was open to all university students; participants produced projects covering creative and innovative solutions on the theme “Effective navigation on CIU campus”.
On the first day of the Hackathon event a total of 64 participants participated. On the first day of the event graduate students performed, and on the second day undergraduate students performed with their mentors on the second day.
The teams were mentored by PhD students, software experts and unit assistants from CIU and Software Development Office. The teams used tools such as artificial intelligence, augmented reality and sensor technologies to design effective navigation systems.
The projects consisted of solutions that considered the needs of disabled visitors to campus and also, they blended students' social responsibility awareness with technology
On the third day of the event, the winning teams were awarded their prizes at the award ceremony held at the CIU Çevik Uraz Center conference hall. Amin Esmaeili Gorjan, Ramtin Salavatian and Arshia Rahmani were successful at the undergraduate level; while Bardia Arman, Chukwudi Gracious Maduka and Victoire Beya Banze at the graduate level.
Speaking at the award ceremony, CIU Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Dr. Erbuğ Çelebi drew attention to the importance of Hackathon, which was held for the first time this year, and stated that Hackathon events could gain an international dimension if organized annually.
CIU School of Applied Sciences Director Assoc. Prof. Dr. Damla Karagözlü stated at the ceremony that Hackathon is not just a competition but an important platform where cooperation, creativity and innovation are encouraged. Karagözlü also noted in her speech that Hackathon is also an event where students can showcase their creativity and gain new experiences.
The ceremony ended with the presentation of awards to the winning teams and the presentation of certificates of appreciation to the mentors and jury members who participated in the event.