2023 The World Engineering Day Hackathon
WE ARE LIVE Challenges released
Teams must select a challenge. Click to learn more
| Feeding 10 billion people in a changing climate. How can we sustainably provide affordable, accessible nutritious diets for future populations? | Tackling water scarcity for future generations. How can clean water – a resource we cannot live without – be provided in a future where it’s more scarce and at higher risk of pollution? | The thriving city; centres for physical and mental health and wellbeing. How can we improve city design and infrastructure, by rethinking new technologies and infrastructure and retrofitting existing so that our urban centres become dynamic equitable places for people to live and thrive? |
| DISCOVER MORE | DISCOVER MORE | DISCOVER MORE |
ARE YOU READY?
You and your team
- Select 1 of the 3 challenges to work on
- Hack the challenge. Come up with a solution and create a 5 minute video
- Submit your work on the 22nd January
Registrations for the 2023 WED Hackathon will remain OPEN for the duration of the hackathon, so additional team members can register
THE 2023 WORLD ENGINEERING DAY THEME IS
Engineering innovation for a more resilient world
Aligned with this theme, the World Engineering Day Hackathon is designed to encourage engineering students to work in teams towards a global real-world problem.
This competition is a fast-paced simulation of a real-world project. Teams are to work collaboratively on a problem to provide a set of deliverables within a short timeframe. Utilising their theoretical knowledge, students gain first-hand experience to develop their critical thinking, build new skill sets, push themselves out of their comfort zone and build lasting relationships.
RESOURCES World Engineering Day
About
World Engineering Day (WED) for Sustainable Development is celebrated on the 4th of March every year as a UNESCOinternational day promoting the profile of engineers and engineering. WED is an opportunity to engage with governments, organizations, universities, industries, media and the community to address the need for engineers around the world to develop strategic frameworks and best practices for the implementation of engineering solutions for Sustainable Development.
In 2023, The World Federation of Engineering Organisations (WFEO)and its members and partners are hosting the HACKATHON which is an international event with a goal to involve engineering students from all over the globe in the celebration of the World Engineering Day.
The WFEO committee, Young Engineers / Future Leaders (YE/FL), is a motivated team of young engineers that work voluntarily to acknowledge and celebrate the young voices of the Engineering profession. Firas Bou Diabis the Chair of this committee, and is delighted to encourage engineering students from all universities to participate in this worldwide competition and work in teams to present engineering solutions for a global problem that is affiliated to the WED2023 Theme: Engineering innovation for a more resilient world
Partners
The Hackathon is hosted by the World Federation of Engineering Organisations (WFEO), its members and partners.
WFEO has once again partnered with Engineers Without Borders International (EWB) and utilised their great knowledge and experience in creating the hackathon challenges. EWB worked closely with WFEO to ensure the challenges aligned with the WED theme for 2023 and were able to highlight some challenges engineers are facing towards the UN SDGs.
Timings
All times noted are in Paris, France timezone (GMT+1)
- December– open to register your team
- 9 Jan 2023– Challenges released
- 22 Jan 2023– Submissions due
- 6 Feb 2023– Top 10 announced
- 4 March 2023– Winner announced during WED Live feed
Submission
Students around the world are invited to participate in the WED Hackathon, that address engineering challenges developed by the World Federation of Engineering Organizations in collaboration with its partners in international engineering and the Engineers Without Borders International network.
Participants will get an opportunity to apply principles they are learning in universities to solve real engineering problems. Further, participants will gain insight into the complexities involved when working within a team trying to solve a challenge within tight time constraints. These types of challenges serve to motivate the students to dig deeper into their engineering education, in order to solve these very real problems.
The HACKATHON competition will take students beyond textbook theory by enabling them to design, build, and test the performance of a real project and then compete with other students from around the world in exciting and intense competition. The competition prepares undergraduate and graduate students in a variety of disciplines for future employment in industries by challenging them with a hands-on, team engineering experience that also requires budgeting, communication, project management, and resource management skills.
The notable prestige that comes with winning or even competing in this HACKATHON will expose participants to additional activities that will help them navigate through their degree in terms of professional opportunities and will also provide networking experiences with experts, who can serve as valuable resources in their collegiate work, as well as advocates for future internships. Participants will also gain valuable exposure with recruiters from leading companies in the industry to help land their first engineering job after graduation.
In 2023, the hackathon has a single submission round. Participants will have the opportunity to make their official submission within 2 weeks of the Hackathon Challenge announcement (9 – 22 Jan 2023).
Submission is a 5-min video presenting their solution, along with a short-written element, detailing elements of their entry.
Judging Criteria
Based on the International Engineering Alliance Global Graduate Attribute and Professional Competencies Profiles.
Considering the proposal presented to you, evaluate whether the submission demonstrates the following engineering competencies.
- Engineering Knowledge:Breadth, depth and type of knowledge, both theoretical and practical applied in developing the solution.
- Problem Analysis:Level of thoroughness in examining the problem and developing the solution.
- Design/ development of solutions:The extent to which the solution is original and extent to which the solution uses new and emerging technologies.
- Investigation, research and ongoing learning:Breadth and depth of investigation, literature research and experimentation applied in developing a unique and innovative solution.
- Extent of use of digital tools and new technologies:The extent to which digital tools such as modelling, Computer Aided Design and Drawing etc. have been used to develop the solution.
- Contribution to UN SDGs:Contribution to sustainable development and description of the UN SDGs that are addressed by the solution.
- Consideration of broad ethical issues:The ethical issues that are addressed by the solution in terms of impact on the environment, different parts of society and economy and how the team has addressed ethical issues such as diversity and inclusion and how potential adverse impacts have been mitigated and positive impacts celebrated.
- Individual and Collaborative Team work:Examples of how the team collaborated to successfully develop the proposed solution and description of the broad range of diversity elements (gender, age, ethnicity, physical abilities, location rural/urban) in the team.
- Communication:Examples of how the team was resourceful in communicating with each in developing the proposal as well as the effectiveness of communicating the proposed solution.
- Project Management and funding for the solution: Level of project management and estimated cost of solution with suggestions for financing the proposed solution.
Graduate Attributes that are addressed in the solution, referencing the International Engineering Alliance Graduate Attribute and Professional Competency (GAPC) Framework
Maximum Score per Category 4
- Score: 0 – Not Addressed
- Score: 1 – Limited attempt to address
- Score: 2 – Some success in addressing the various elements
- Score: 3 – Good attempt to address the element
- Score: 4 – Addressed very effectively
FAQ
How do we upload our submission?
This competition is using the AwardStage software as the Submission Portal. You can access this site via the “Submit Now” links on the page. For detailed instructions on how to Register as an Entrant and how to complete your Submission, you can review this document.
Are both graduate and undergraduate students allowed to participate?
Yes, teams can be made up on most levels of university students. Only PhD level is not eligible.
Are only university students allowed to participate?
All engineering students can apply to participate in the WED Hack. This includes students attending university, TAFE, technical colleges, polytechnics etc.. As long as they are studying engineering or a technical qualification.
Does the team have to be all from the same university/school?
No, we can accept teams which are made up of a number of universities/institutions.
When will the finalists be announced?
Top 10 Finalists will be announced 6 Feb 2023.
Can I receive a certificate of participation?
Yes, we will send you a prompt to make this request after the finalists are announced.
Is there any cost to participating?
There is no cost in participating. Please note our sponsors, for without their support we would not be able to put on such a worthwhile event.
How will I receive the challenge?
The challenge will be released on this website on the 9 Jan 2023.
When does the registration period end?
Registration ends 22 Jan when submissions close.
What is the maximum number of participants allowed per team?
Teams are to be made up of 3 – 5 students, with a majority being engineering students.
How should my entry be presented?
Your submission must include: a 5-minute video; a photo of your team; response to various questions about your solution (English). Written response must be in English. Video can be in any language, but must have English subtitles. Further detail will be released with the Challenge.
Can we see an example of the winning case solution from the last years?
The three winning entries from 2022 are available on the WED website here.
Who is WFEO?
The World Federation of Engineering Organisations (WFEO) is the body which created this hackathon event.
What is World Engineering Day?
Who came up with the Hackathon challenges?
WFEO partnered with Engineers Without Borders International (EWB) and utilised their great knowledge and experience in creating challenges. EWB worked closely with WFEO to ensure the challenges aligned with the WED theme for 2023 and were able to highlight some challenges engineers are facing towards the UN SDGs.
Still have a question?
Fill out this quick formwith your details and the question. The organisers will either:
- Contact you directly with an answer;
- Update the FAQ; or
- Release a Q&A session
Any question raised after 17 Jan 2023 may not be answered before competition closing.
Rules
Entry and Eligibility
The World Engineering Day Hackathon will be open to:
- Any student attending any university or engineering school, for the entirety of 2023.
- Written elements of submissions must be provided in English. Video elements can be in any language, but must have English subtitles.
Intellectual Property
The entrants retain ownership of their designs.
The entrant’s licence WFEO and the World Engineering Day Committee to use and modify for use their photographs, video and any written content as a part of promoting the Hackathon, the winners and the event.
Prizes
- 1st: EUR 4,000
- 2nd: EUR 2,000
- 3rd: EUR 1,000
All prizes are to be given as a team, not as individuals
Judges
Thank you to all the amazing engineers and friends who have volunteered their time to be judges.
There are 40 judges from around the World to assist us in the judging of the Preliminary Round.
Sponsors
We’re currently seeking sponsorship partners to join us for this exciting new program. If you would like to hear more please click here
