College of Information Technology Organizes Digital Innovation Hackathon for Developing Full Projects Within 60 Minutes
Duhaa Fadill Abbas
The Department of Software at the College of Information Technology, University of Babylon, organized the Digital Innovation Hackathon, a unique technical competition aimed at enabling students to develop a fully functioning mobile application or website within only sixty minutes. The event relied heavily on artificial intelligence tools and included wide participation from all scientific departments of the college.
The event commenced with the playing of the Iraqi National Anthem, followed by an announcement of the competition approach, which involved assigning each team’s project topic randomly through a digital “wheel of fortune,” adding excitement and unpredictability to the atmosphere. The participating teams immediately began working on their projects while benefiting from high-speed Internet provided specifically to ensure an optimal competitive environment. The organizing committee supervised the process, responding to questions and assisting students in overcoming technical obstacles encountered during implementation.
The hackathon witnessed a distinguished attendance that included the Dean of the College, his assistants, heads of scientific departments, a number of faculty members, as well as students who attended to support, motivate, and encourage their colleagues.
Students from the Software Department, the Information Networks Department, and the Cybersecurity Department participated either individually or in teams of no more than three students.
The event also featured an artistic segment presented by the College of Fine Arts, which included live painting and a theatrical performance, reflecting a unique integration of artistic and technological creativity. The Dean of the College selected the best artwork presented during this segment.
The representative of the sponsoring company, Qi, delivered a speech in which he emphasized the company’s continued support for student-centered initiatives that enhance practical skills and align with current market needs. This was followed by a speech from the Dean of the College of Information Technology, who expressed his pride in the outstanding performance of the students and their ability to translate ideas into executable projects within a short period, describing this as a clear indication of their competence and professional readiness.
After the development time concluded, student teams presented their projects before a specialized judging committee, which evaluated the submissions based on several criteria, including originality of the idea, creativity in execution, applicability, the effective use of artificial intelligence techniques, and the extent to which the project addressed a real-world problem. The projects demonstrated strong focus on issues students commonly face, such as lecture summarization, grade tracking, administrative and financial processes, academic registration follow-up, and even systems that guide students in choosing their major or study program. These were presented through intelligent interactive solutions designed to provide practical and effective outcomes.
The hackathon concluded with the announcement of the three winning teams, who received symbolic awards from Qi, in addition to participation certificates and gifts distributed to all participants. A commemorative group photograph was taken at the end of the event.
The Digital Innovation Hackathon represented a valuable practical experience that strengthened students’ abilities to work under pressure, think creatively, and employ artificial intelligence in developing innovative technological solutions that support the university environment and align with the rapid advancements in the digital world.