Hack4Change 2024
From March 19th – 21st 2024, the DCU Social Innovation Hackathon – Hack4Change – took place in DCU’s U building on the Glasnevin campus. Approximately 800 first year business school students and first years from the Climate and Environmental Sustainability Futures programme took part in one of the 5 sessions run over these 3 days. We also welcomed 13 speakers, approximately 50 mentors and representatives from our key sponsors Dublin City Council and Deloitte.
Part of the Learning Innovation for Enterprise (LIFE) module, the hackathon enabled students to work collectively in groups to develop innovative solutions for circular economy-related issues. Students developed problem definition statements before their hackathon session, while during the session they worked through a number of ideation techniques and completed their Hack Impact canvases. Sessions began with lightning talks and speakers included social entrepreneurs and industry experts representing a variety of enterprises including The Rediscovery Centre, The Sustainable Life School, Airfield Estate, Irish Social Enterprise Network, ReBride, SERI, Moyee Coffee, Isaac Jackman Shoe Repairs, Veolia, and Philanthropy Ireland.
Industry mentors and many generous DCU staff offered their feedback and insights on proposed solutions, which students linked to sustainable development goals (SDGs). For the final activity of the hackathon sessions, students were asked to post their problems and solutions in visually compelling Instagram posts to receive some further feedback from peers. Student-led activity on Instagram led to a sharp increase in metrics for our account with a total of 75 posts and 73 stories posted to the DCUHack4Change account and over 2,300 accounts reached. The Instagram posts generated hundreds of engagements, highlighting the success of the event.
Student teams with the most innovative ideas and displaying the most engagement during the event won prizes of vouchers and goodie bags kindly sponsored by Deloitte and DCU Business School. In addition, Dublin City Council sponsored three bicycles (from the social enterprise The Good Bike Company) which were awarded to the most attentive students, and the team who reached the widest audience on Instagram were also awarded with voucher prizes.
Each hackathon session ended with pizza for the students and our speakers and mentors availed of a Dublin City Council sponsored lunch provided by the social enterprise Third Space catering each day. Overall the event was an effective means of providing students with some ideation experience in the circular economy space as well as the opportunity to engage with social enterprise practitioners and sustainability champions from industry. A sincere thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of this event!
Find out more about the LIFE module here:
LIFE module wins 7th Innovation & Entrepreneurship Teaching Excellence Awards
LIFE module wins European Award for Innovation in Teaching and Learning
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