Students from Durban University of Technology (DUT) took all three podium places in the MICT SETA National Skills Challenge Hackathon KZN Regionals, with the winning team set to continue the representation of KwaZulu-Natal at the national finals in Gauteng
The achievement demonstrates DUT’s strengths in developing the innovative technology and problem-solving skills sought after by employers.
DUT team wins R100,000
The winning team comes from DUT Informatics and comprised Lindokuhle Mnguni, Queen Hadebe and Sanelisekile Nqabeni
They were awarded R100,000 for creating an innovative application to promote tourism empowerment.
The achievement will allow the team to progress to the national finals, where they will compete against teams from other regions to represent KwaZulu-Natal.
Two other DUT teams fill the podium
DUT Informatics’ success was continued with the other two places on the podium, with Team Demo in second place and Clever Programming in third. Both prizes amount to R50,000.
The teams of Gomotso Mohapi, Ntokozo Ngcobo and Lwazi Ncongwana were victorious in the KZN Regionals despite the high standard of other entries, and will have the opportunity to demonstrate their hacking and problem-solving skills at the national finals.
Innovation based on practical problem-solving
The achievement is an example of how students at DUT are able to utilise their academic skills to solve practical technology problems.
The winning teams all originate from DUT’s Faculty of Accounting and Informatics, where students are exposed to technology and information systems as part of their studies. They can take the knowledge gained in classrooms and apply it in innovative ways to solve specific problems.
EPIP model supports student innovation
DUT cited its Engineering Practice Innovation Project (EPIP) model as being responsible for the success, enabling students to develop practical solutions to problems, rather than the theoretical focus of traditional education.
For students in technology-related fields of study, the EPIP provides an opportunity to develop their skills in collaboration, creative problem-solving and building a prototype from an idea.
Tourism project gets national exposure
The winning team’s application focussed on tourism empowerment, and will earn them the chance to take their idea to the national stage in Gauteng
They will compete against the winning teams from other regions, and the national finals provide an additional platform for exposure to the wider technology industry.
For young developers and students, the opportunity to enter a major hackathon provides exposure to new ideas and the chance to demonstrate their problem-solving abilities in a competitive environment.
More than a competition win
The clean sweep of the podium by DUT students is also an example of the increasing emphasis on practical digital skills in the workplace. Employers from a range of industries are seeking graduates with the combination of theoretical knowledge, practical ability and teamwork skills offered by students who participate in hackathons.
The MICT SETA challenge is one opportunity for students to showcase their talents in this arena, rather than focussing solely on completing academic assessments.
Why the achievement is important to the students
For the students, the prize money is a bonus, but the real value of winning lies in the opportunity to compete at the national finals.
They will be able to take their ideas to the next level, while gaining vital experience in problem-solving, collaboration and presentation. The three members of the winning team must now focus on advancing their tourism application and competing against the best teams at the national finals.
The achievement will also inspire other students to enter a similar competition and build on their academic skills to develop practical applications.
DUT’s outstanding results at the KZN Regionals
With the three places on the podium at the MICT SETA National Skills Challenge Hackathon KZN Regionals, DUT has made a statement of intent.
The results were:
Position Team Prize 1st DUT Informatics R100,000 2nd Team Demo R50,000 3rd Clever Programming R50,000
All three victorious teams hail from DUT’s Faculty of Accounting and Informatics, which is set to reap the rewards of its innovative curriculum in information technology and systems development.
The winning team of DUT Informatics will now take its tourism application to the national finals in Gauteng, where they will compete against the other regional winners.
A celebration of practical technology innovation
The success of the DUT teams at the MICT SETA hackathon shows the value of providing opportunities for students to develop and share their ideas.
For the students, the competition is a chance to extend their skills and reputation beyond the classroom, while winning teams enjoy the reward of their hard work and innovation in the form of prize money.
The challenge now lies in the national finals, where DUT Informatics will seek to defend its reputation as the best in the country.
For now, the students of DUT have achieved a remarkable result at the KZN Regionals: all three podium places belong to DUT students.
Source and reporting note
This article is independently written from information supplied about the MICT SETA National Skills Challenge Hackathon KZN Regionals and the results involving Durban University of Technology students.
The team names, student names, positions, prize amounts, Faculty of Accounting and Informatics affiliation, EPIP reference and progression to the national finals are reported from the supplied information.
Editorial policy
We report student achievements and skills-development initiatives using information from the relevant institution or event. We distinguish between confirmed competition results and potential future outcomes.
Disclaimer
Winning a regional hackathon does not guarantee future employment, investment or commercial success for a project. The national finals remain a separate stage of the competition.
