Creating Innovative
Solutions – A Hackathon

Industry and Community Partners

Ericsson Australia

Hackathon/Competition and Events

University

University of Technology Sydney (UTS)

Innovative Features

Engaging multiple disciplines
Intra or entrepreneurial elements
Co-designed with industry or community
Coach or mentor elements

Enablers

Key enablers of the Ericsson Hackathon include:

A well-established relationship between UTS and Ericsson, which has continued to flourish in mutually beneficial ways.
The commitment and desire from both parties to contribute to a mutually beneficial deep-partnership.
UTS staff within the Engaged Learning Team were extremely supportive of the hackathon and were instrumental in organising and managing the event.
Ericsson sponsored food and prizes and arranged for high-profile staff to be judges on the final day of the hackathon, including senior human resource staff from Ericsson.
The Ericsson Hackathon was held the week before classes started so venues and facilities were easily available, and students were engaged with the university given the approaching start of Semester 1.

For more information

Dr Julia Prior, Senior Lecturer, School of Software, Faculty of Engineering and IT, University of Technology Sydney, E: Julia.Prior@uts.edu.au

Links

Website →

The Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology (FEIT) at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) in partnership with Ericsson Australia, hosted a non-credit bearing hackathon for students across all disciplines and years of study within the Faculty.

Ericsson set the hackathon ‘problem’ which involved students coming up with an innovative concept to use the data generated from the Internet of Things (IOT) system in the FEIT building to improve users experience. The students worked in multidisciplinary teams mentored by experts from Ericsson and by academic staff with expertise in IOT systems.

The hackathon was hosted at the FEIT buildings and across the UTS campus over 2.5 days. Student teams worked intensely over this time. Students completed a presentation on the final day of the hackathon to a panel of VIP judges. Students were required to explain their process of idea development and proof of concept. Students needed to prove their idea was possible.

Impact / outcomes

Students: The hackathon gave students the opportunity to work in teams, with a multinational company, and to be visible to the company. The hackathon also gave students the opportunity to network and put themselves in front of a potential employer.

Industry Partner: Ericsson saw firsthand what UTS students were capable of, and they were really impressed. Because Ericsson now have a good idea of what students can achieve, they have been keen to create additional opportunities for UTS students to engage with their organisation.

Teaching Staff: The hackathon strengthened relationships between UTS and Ericsson and help create a deep-partnership between the two, this has led to the development of further engagement opportunities for students. For example, Capstone Projects have been developed for two UTS Masters Students.

Student Assessment

There were no formal assessments, however prizes were awarded to the overall winning team which included a prize voucher and the opportunity to fast track Ericsson’s graduate program for each team member. Winning students were also invited to work further with Ericsson in their major projects throughout the semester. Three additional awards were granted including the Innovation Award, the Social Responsibility Award and the Business Value Award and Team Diversity and Inclusion Award.