World Engineering Day (WED) for Sustainable Development is celebrated on the 4th of March every year as a UNESCO international day promoting the profile of engineers and engineering. WED is an opportunity to engage with governments, organizations, universities, industries, media and the community to address the need for engineers around the world to develop strategic frameworks and best practices for the implementation of engineering solutions for Sustainable Development.

In 2022, The World Federation of Engineering Organisations (WFEO) and its members and partners are hosting the HACKATHON which is an international event with a goal to involve engineering students from all over the globe in the celebration of the World Engineering Day.

The WFEO committee, Young Engineers / Future Leaders (YE/FL), is a motivated team of young engineers that work voluntarily to acknowledge and celebrate the young voices of the Engineering profession. Firas Bou Diab is the Chair of this committee, and is delighted to encourage engineering students from all universities to participate in this worldwide competition and work in teams to present engineering solutions for a global problem that is affiliated to the WED2022 Theme: Build Back Wiser – Engineering the Future.

The Hackathon is hosted by the World Federation of Engineering Organisations (WFEO), its members and partners.

Partners include the International Engineering Alliance, the International Federation of Engineering Education Societies, the Global Engineering Deans Council and Engineers Without Borders-International who are working with WFEO to create comprehensive and relevant engineering challenges that align with the 2022 World Engineering Day theme, Build Back Wiser: Engineering the Future, and which will encourage engineering students to develop solutions that advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

All times noted are in Paris, France timezone

November - open to register your team

10 Jan 2022 - Challenges released

23 Jan 2022 - Round 1 submissions due

14 Feb 2022 - Round 1 winners announced & invited to participate in Round 2

28 Feb 2022 - Round 2 submissions due

4 March 2022 - Winner announced during WED 24HR Live feed

Students around the world are invited to participate in the WED Hackathon, that address engineering challenges developed by the World Federation of Engineering Organizations in collaboration with its partners in international engineering and the Engineers Without Borders International network.

Participants will get an opportunity to apply principles they are learning in universities to solve real engineering problems. Further, participants will gain insight into the complexities involved when working within a team trying to solve a challenge within tight time constraints. These types of challenges serve to motivate the students to dig deeper into their engineering education, in order to solve these very real problems.

The HACKATHON competition will take students beyond textbook theory by enabling them to design, build, and test the performance of a real project and then compete with other students from around the world in exciting and intense competition. The competition prepares undergraduate and graduate students in a variety of disciplines for future employment in industries by challenging them with a hands-on, team engineering experience that also requires budgeting, communication, project management, and resource management skills.

The notable prestige that comes with winning or even competing in this HACKATHON will expose participants to additional activities that will help them navigate through their degree in terms of professional opportunities and will also provide networking experiences with experts, who can serve as valuable resources in their collegiate work, as well as advocates for future internships. Participants will also gain valuable exposure with recruiters from leading companies in the industry to help land their first engineering job after graduation.

Round one is a written submission round. Participants will be required to make their official submission within 2 weeks of the Hackathon Challenge announcement. Entries must provide a detailed submission of their solution for judging. The top 8-10 entries will be identified and qualify for the next round.

Round two is a video submission. Finalists will be required to create and submit a video presentation of their solution and work. Finalist videos will be aired during the global World Engineering Day 24HRS LIVE stream, with the winner announced LIVE on air on March 4th 2022.

How do we upload our submission?

This competition is using the AwardStage software as the Submission Portal.  You can access this site via the "Submit Now" links on the page.  For detailed instructions on how to Register as an Entrant and how to complete your Submission, you can review this document

Are both graduate and undergraduate students allowed to participate?

Yes, teams can be made up on most levels of university students. Only PhD level is not eligible

Does the team have to be all from the same university?

No, we can accept teams which are made up of a number of universities

When will the finalists be announced?

Round 1 Finalists will be announced 14 Feb 2022

Can I receive a certificate of participation?

Yes, we will send you a prompt to make this request after your Round 1 submission has been made.

Is there any cost to participating?

There is no cost in participating. Please note our sponsors, for without their support we would not be able to put on such a worthwhile event.

How will I receive the challenge?

The challenge will be released on this website on the 10 Jan 2022. Registered Team Captains will also receive the link to the Challenges.

When does the registration period end?

Registration ends 23 Jan when Round 1 closes.

What is the maximum number of participants allowed per team?

Teams are to be made up of 3 - 5 students, with a majority being engineering students.

How should my Round 1 solution be presented?

This is a word document which must be in English. Further detail will be released with the Challenge.

Can we see an example of the winning case solution from the last years?

2022 is the first year, so we don't have an example to show at this time.

I've made it through Round 1! What format is Round 2 in?

Congratulations! Round 2 takes a video format (max 5min). This can be in your preferred language, but must have English subtitles. Further information will be released to the team captains upon confirmation of your Finalist status.

Who is WFEO?

The World Federation of Engineering Organisations (WFEO) is the body which created this hackathon event.

What is World Engineering Day?

Discover more here

Who came up with the Hackathon challenges?

WFEO partnered with Engineers Without Borders International (EWB) and utilised their great knowledge and experience in creating challenges. EWB worked closely with WFEO to ensure the challenges aligned with the WED theme for 2022 and were able to highlight some challenges engineers are facing towards the UN SDGs.

Still have a question?

Fill out this quick form with your details and the question. The organisers will either:

1. Contact you directly with an answer;
2. Update the FAQ; or
3. Release a Q&A session

Any question raised after 17 Jan 2022 may not be answered before competition closing.

Entry and Eligibility

The World Engineering Day Hackathon will be open to:

1. 1. Any student attending any university or engineering school, for the entirety of 2021;
   2. Entries are open to undergraduate and graduate students, excluding PhD. (Add details in FAQ)
   3. Entries must be made by a group of 2 to 5 individuals working as a team;
   4. The team must contain at least 50% of students enrolled in an engineering degree
   5. Entrants will be required to provide evidence of their eligibility under these rules as a part of their submission. Example of evidence is a university ID card.
   6. An individual may only participate in a single team. They cannot work across multiple teams.
   7. Participants from each team do not need to be restricted to the same university or country
   8. Submission 1 entries (written) must be provided in English.
   9. Submission 2 entries (video) can be in any language, but must have English subtitles.

Intellectual Property

The entrants retain ownership of their designs.

The entrant’s licence WFEO and the World Engineering Day Committee to use and modify for use their photographs, video and any written content as a part of promoting the Hackathon, the winners and the event.

1st: EUR 4,000

2nd: EUR 2,000

3rd: EUR 1,000

All prizes are to be given as a team, not as individuals

Thank you to all the amazing engineers and friends who have volunteered their time to be judges. 

There are 40 judges from around the World to assist us in the judging of the Preliminary Round. 

Our Finalist Judges come from a number of WFEO key partners.

With special thanks to our Finalist Judges...

Amal Kasry - UNESCO

Katie Cresswell-Maynard - EWB-International

Firas Bou Diab - WFEO YE/FL

Najla Triki - INWES

Bulent Ozguler - International Engineering Alliance

Leo Kempel - IFEES

With special thanks to our Preliminary Judges...

Click here to meet our Preliminary Judges here.

Nicole Brown - WFEO Young Engineers/Future Leaders

Kwaku Duah - WFEO Young Engineers/Future Leaders

Christopher Chukwunta - WFEO Young Engineers/Future Leaders

Sofía Retana Valverde - WFEO Young Engineers/Future Leaders

Tak Tang - WFEO Young Engineers/Future Leaders

Donovan Guttieres - WFEO Young Engineers/Future Leaders

Michael Mhlanga - WFEO Young Engineers/Future Leaders

Michael Kamau - WFEO Young Engineers/Future Leaders

Aung Thet Paing - WFEO Young Engineers/Future Leaders

Ben Clark - WFEO Young Engineers/Future Leaders

Tony Wilson - Young Engineers Australia

David Henderson - Young Engineers Australia

Tino Baya - Young Engineers Australia

Mitch Horrocks - EWB Australia

Raymond Lopinski - EWB Hong Kong

Steve Tarimaemae - EWB Australia

Mariny Chheang - EWB Australia

Larry Bentley - EWB USA

Rusnida Talib - The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM)

Visha Hidelage - WiE Bangladesh

Abeer Ahmed - Young Engineers Australia

Gabbi Zaccari - Young Engineers Australia

Jeanne Huang - Canadian Society for Civil Engineering

Jing He - WFEO, Committee on Engineering and the Environment

Lihui Xu - ICEE

Dereck Cai - IAHR (International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research)

Guanyi Wang - CAST

Jessy Wang Chinese - Institute of Electronics

Jeshika Ramchund - FIDIC Future Leaders Council

María Laura Polo González - SPEED

Alejandro Rocha Bermudez - CFIA Costa Rica

Sofia Abarca - CFIA Costa Rica

Danny Fallas Aguero - CFIA Costa Rica

Mariana Viquez Sanchez - CFIA Costa Rica

Kevin Montoya Meza - CFIA Costa Rica

Rodrigo Juárez - FIDIC Future Leaders Council

Radhika Gunaji - SPEED

Syafiq Shahul - Chairman Young Engineers, IES YEC

Deckson Ang - Division Head, Finance & Administration, YEC

Syed Mubarak - Division Head, Programme & Training, YEC

We're currently seeking sponsorship partners to join us for this exciting new program. If you would like to hear more please click here

Based on the International Engineering Alliance Global Graduate Attribute and Professional Competencies Profiles. Considering the proposal presented to you, evaluate whether the submission demonstrates the following engineering competencies.

• Engineering Knowledge: Breadth, depth and type of knowledge, both theoretical and practical applied in developing the solution.

• Problem Analysis: Level of thoroughness in examining the problem and developing the solution.

• Design/ development of solutions: The extent to which the solution is original and extent to which the solution uses new and emerging technologies.

• Investigation, research and ongoing learning: Breadth and depth of investigation, literature research and
  Experimentation applied in developing a unique and innovative solution.

• Extent of use of digital tools and new technologies: The extent to which digital tools such as modelling, Computer Aided Design and Drawing etc. have been used to develop the solution.

• Contribution to UN SDGs: Contribution to sustainable development and description of the UN SDGs that are addressed by the solution.

• Consideration of broad ethical issues: The ethical issues that are addressed by the solution in terms of impact on the environment, different parts of society and economy and how the team has addressed ethical issues such as diversity and inclusion and how potential adverse impacts have been mitigated and positive impacts celebrated.

• Individual and Collaborative Team work: Examples of how the team collaborated to successfully develop the proposed solution and description of the broad range of diversity elements (gender, age, ethnicity, physical abilities, location rural/urban) in the team.

• Communication: Examples of how the team was resourceful in communicating with each in developing the proposal as well as the effectiveness of communicating the proposed solution.

• Project Management and funding for the solution: Level of project management and estimated cost of solution with suggestions for financing the proposed solution.

Graduate Attributes that are addressed in the solution, referencing the International Engineering Alliance Graduate Attribute and Professional Competency (GAPC) Framework

Maximum Score per Category 4

Score: 0 - Not Addressed

Score: 1 - Limited attempt to address

Score: 2 - Some success in addressing the various elements

Score: 3 - Good attempt to address the element

Score: 4 - Addressed very effectively

The following Q&A are for Finalist's information

How will we cite our resources in the video?

There is no need to cite within your video. You will be asked to include a Reference document with your video upload. Please include all citation (with video timestamp) in this document.

Will there be an overtime penalty?

The finalist video is to be 5-minutes in duration.  There is no direct penalty if you go over time, but it will be noted that you have not been able to successfully articulated your solution within the specified time.

Can we add people to our team now that we are Finalists?

No. Your team must remain the same.  However you can approach mentors to assist and guide you in creating your Finalist video entry

Can we change Challenges or Solutions?

No. You must present a video based on the selected Challenge and Solution from the Preliminary Round

Where do we upload our video submission?

You will be permitted back into the AwardStage Hackathon Portal.  Please select "Finalist Round" and submit your video there.

Can we speak multiple languages in the one video?

Yes.  This competition is open to everyone in the world and we would love the language/s in your video submission to reflect that.

Where do we send our final video submission?

Return to the Hackathon Portal. Log in with the same username/password as Round 1.  This time select "Round 2" category. Confirm your team participants, upload your video and your reference sheet. Please submit.

When are Final Submissions due?

Final Submissions are due midday 28 Feb 2022 (Paris time.. GMT+0)