Award-Winning Innovations by AISS Students at EdTech Hackathon 2024
The EdTech Hackathon 2024, organized by Tallinn University's School of Educational Sciences, Tallinn University of Technology, and EdTech Estonia with the support of the European Social Fund, was held from November 15–17 at TalTech Mektory and Tallinn University. The event highlighted the transformative role of digital solutions in reshaping vocational education.
With over 200 participants from around the world, including teams from Estonia, Spain, India, and Mexico, the hackathon brought a global perspective to this year’s theme. As part of the DigiEduHack European Hackathon Week, the competition focused on tackling critical challenges in vocational training by utilizing emerging technologies like AI, AR/VR, and other digital tools.
The event aimed to bridge the gap between education and employment, fostering innovative solutions to prepare learners for a rapidly evolving job market.
This year’s event focused on two primary challenges: Empowering Career Paths and Creating Innovative Internships – Bridging the gap between education and employment through technology-driven internship opportunities and Reimagining Learning with Emerging Technologies – Utilizing AI, AR/VR, and other digital tools to enhance vocational training materials and create interactive learning experiences.
Over the course of the 48-hour event, participants worked tirelessly on developing prototypes that could reshape how vocational education is delivered, mentored by experts in the fields of education, technology, and UX design. These collaborations not only fostered local innovation but also contributed to a broader Europe-wide initiative focused on improving vocational education.
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Among the standout teams at the hackathon were two including students from the master’s program Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Societies. ÕppeSild, comprising Hend Khatab, Jacob Jacob Buhay Solaña, Cristal Denise Rivera Picado, and Nina Petrushkova, secured third place, earning a €1,000 prize from EdTech Estonia. The team addressed educational gaps for autistic children by proposing an AI-powered solution for personalized learning. Their approach focused on delivering positive feedback to support educational progress and foster inclusive education.
Skillcraft, featuring AISS students Baranaba Mudanyi Mugabane and Hakeem Farouk Alavi, achieved fourth place, winning a €700 award from the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research. Their project introduced an innovative solution to enhance vocational training and internship opportunities, leveraging digital tools to create more meaningful career pathways for students.
"SkillCraft is a web application designed to help learners and professionals in vocational education improve their soft skills through an AI-powered voice agent that offers personalized guidance, interactive scenarios, and actionable feedback. Using AI-driven roleplay and real-time insights, it bridges the gap between technical expertise and soft skills, addressing the 89% of hiring failures caused by a lack of soft skills while aligning with EU and Estonian educational standards for lifelong learning"- mentioned team member Hakeem Farouk Alavi.
Both teams were also recognized with non-monetary awards from Bonsay Technologies and Machine Learners, highlighting their significant contributions to the future of vocational education.
The success of the EdTech Hackathon 2024 underscores the increasing importance of digital innovation in educational reform. Winning solutions from the event not only promise to improve vocational training in Estonia but also have the potential to influence broader educational reforms across Europe.