Opening up opportunities in the tech industry for Middlesex graduates

In July 2020, SEE was proud to organise and host a fully remote hackathon for Middlesex University under MDXadvantage, the University’s dedicated support package for undergraduate students in their final year of study. It was held in the peak of the pandemic, but that didn’t stop students from coming together to tackle the challenge they were about to receive. 

The brief for the hackathon was to identify an area where Middlesex University could improve its approach to equal opportunities. This hit close to home as Middlesex University was known to be a champion of diversity, and higher education was one of the keys to creating equal opportunities. At the end of the session, students had to present their research and outline how their final solution could possibly be implemented.

Each team consisted of four students from a variety of departments, as well as a mentor from SEE. Throughout the event, the student teams were brought through the different sprints and tools such as creating a user persona and ideation. The students were also provided an online business model canvas tool that guided them through the process of creating their solution and business proposition.

After completing all the sprints, students presented their final pitch to a panel of judges which included Alan Stuart, Director for Careers and Employability; Leonnie Jackson, Faculty Employability Adviser; and Maria Olariu, Digital & Project Coordinator.

The staff at Middlesex University appreciated that the skills students acquired and developed during the hackathon were ones that were highly sought after by graduate recruiters, and as such it was an apt opportunity to evidence those qualities for their future endeavours.

Check out the Hackathon Facilitation Deck and the Final Project Hackathon Presentations.

Detail of hackathon

• Fully remote hackathon hosted on Zoom during the pandemic

• Jul 13, 2020

• 11:00 am – 3.00 pm

  
  

Brief

Middlesex University is a champion of diversity, but can you identify one area where the institution can improve its approach to equal opportunities? Suggest a practical solution and how it could be implementedYour challenge is to design a solution proposal and present it. You have 3 hours to specify your user, design a prototype, action plan and presentation slides. Don’t worry. Your mentor will help you. Good luck!

“Higher education has the power to be an enormous driver for social change, and can be an engine for equality and social justice”

Judges / Persons of interest

• Alan Stuart – Director for careers & employability

• Leonnie Jackson – faculty employability adviser 

• Maria Olariu – digital & project co-ordinator

  
  

Outcomes

Improving accessibility of financial aid online

Increasing access to technology loans

Providing support for young single parents studying at MDX