On Thursday 21 November, Manuel José Ruiz García, the creator and promoter of #hack4edu and Manager of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence at ProFuturo, spoke on COPE’s La Linterna programme, where he shared the lessons learned and the impact of the 5th edition of the most international hybrid hackathon that is revolutionising digital education.
Listen to the full interview here.
What’s hack4edu?
Hack4edu is so much more than just a competition. With the support of Fundación Telefónica and Fundación “la Caixa” together with the Telefónica Chairs Network, and the Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca (UPSA), through the Faculty of Computer Science, hack4edu brings together young innovators from different parts of the world to create technological solutions that transform education in disadvantaged contexts. Over 630 hackers from 12 countries submitted 72 challenges this year in areas such as artificial intelligence and educational accessibility to solve them.
The 7 winning projects in the senior and junior categories include innovative solutions such as apps to detect emotions while learning, eye control technology for people with motor disabilities and educational adaptations using Minecraft. Click here to find out more about the latest edition of hack4edu.
The hackathon vision
As Manuel explained, “the real purpose of hack4edu is to develop innovative tools that are accessible and useful in the places where they are needed the most. We want digital education to reach everyone”.
During the interview, Manuel was joined by two of the winners of the 5th edition of the hackathon. Miguel Barranquero, from the University of Salamanca, won first prize in the Senior category with his project that uses Minecraft to teach artificial intelligence to students of all ages. Estefany Joussef, from Engidea, Venezuela, won third prize with her project E-WASTE, which is a robot that not only recycles electronic waste, but also educates students about recycling and its environmental impact.The two shared how, by working together internationally, they were able to overcome similar educational challenges and create inclusive solutions that open up new opportunities for people who need them most. They emphasised how important it is to focus on developing innovations that not only solve technological problems, but also facilitate access to quality education for all, regardless of obstacles.
Hack4edu’s impact: purposeful innovation
Manuel Ruiz outlined how hack4edu has become a driving force for social innovation, not only by fostering young talent, but also by creating solutions that have a real impact on the most disadvantaged communities. He emphasised how this hackathon has succeeded in fostering international collaboration and has opened new doors to strengthen educational and technological networks worldwide.
Hack4edu continues to consolidate itself as a key platform for inclusive digital education, demonstrating ProFuturo’s commitment to a future where quality education is available to all.
We look forward to seeing you at the 6th edition of #hack4edu!
#EducatingTransforms
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