Hackathon Week at Addis Ababa University

Overview

Hackathon Week at Addis Ababa University is an intensive 30-hour innovation challenge aimed at fostering technological solutions to pressing challenges in Ethiopia. Participants will be randomly assigned a real-world problem, carefully selected by our team, and will collaborate to develop web applications, mobile applications, or games as potential solutions.

Solutions will be evaluated based on:

• Scalability – The potential for the solution to expand beyond its initial scope.
• Problem Impact – The extent to which the solution effectively addresses the assigned challenge.
• Innovation & Feasibility – The creativity, practicality, and implementability of the solution.

This event provides students with an opportunity to apply technical skills, engage in cross-disciplinary collaboration, and contribute to meaningful advancements in technology and engineering.

Expected Outcomes

• Increased awareness and engagement in technological and engineering advancements
• Strengthened collaboration between students, academic departments, and industry professionals
• Practical skill development in Cybersecurity, AI, Robotics, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and Innovation
• Opportunities for students to showcase projects and gain industry recognition
• Potential incubation and development of winning solutions into scalable projects

Agenda

March 5, 2024 – Virtual Orientation Session

📅 Time: 8:00 PM (Virtual)

📌 Session Overview:

• Introduction to Hackathon objectives and guidelines
• Overview of the evaluation criteria and expected outcomes
• Q&A session with participants

March 6, 2024 – Hackathon Kickoff & Development Phase

📅 Time: 8:00 AM (Onsite at AAU 5Kilo Campus, Innovation Center)

📌 Schedule:

• 8:30 AM – Official Hackathon launch.
• 9:00 AM(March 6) – 9:00 AM (March 7) – 24-hour brainstorming, development phase, where teams design, prototype, and build their solutions

March 7, 2024 – Project Pitch & Grand Hackathon Prize

📅 Time: 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM

📌 Schedule:

• 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM - Preparation for project presentation
• 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM – Project presentations: Each team pitches their solution before a panel of judges.
• 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM – Judges will decide on the winning team
• 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM – Winning teams receive prizes from GDG AAU and additional incentives from the Innovation Center then finalize the Hackathon(Also the team who win the Hackathon at 1st place will prepare for the Grand Hackathon prize by AAiT Innovation center)

Hackathon Week at AAU is designed to empower students, foster innovation, and bridge academia with industry challenges. The event provides a platform for young innovators to develop solutions that could potentially be incubated and contribute to technological progress in Ethiopia.

Participation Details

📍 Venue: AAU 5Kilo Campus, Innovation Center

🎯 Eligibility: Open to students across all disciplines interested in technology, problem-solving, and innovation

We invite all aspiring developers, designers, and problem-solvers to take part in this transformative experience