3e-news.net
The initiative achieved its goals of contributing to the rapprochement between educational programs in higher education institutions and the needs of the business sector in Bulgaria, as well as to contribute to retaining them in the country.
The winner of the first edition of the AmCham Bulgaria Hackathon is Team "RAMAC" from IBM Bulgaria with their project "AI Lifeline", which offers a solution to assist people with autism. It was developed by a team consisting of Stelian Petrov, Sara Kolova, Boris Dokolyakov, Sofia Pisarska, Zhani Kostadinova, with mentor Krasiimir Vasilev, IBM Software Application Developer / Data Scientist, and offers a prototype for monitoring patients' health indicators, can call for emergency assistance, and is also useful for people with diabetes.
Furthermore, the jury consisting of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Iya Petkova, Faculty of Economics, Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", Senior Lecturer Dr. Mikhail Zagorski, Faculty of Industrial Technologies, TU-Sofia, and Daniel Kiryakov, Manager of "Communications and Institutional Relations", ATK, after two days of presentations, decided to award two additional projects that achieved high complex performance.
Thus, the two finalist teams are:
Team HRCP 1 with a proposal for expanding business outside Bulgaria in the field of leadership training through a platform that complements facilitator-led training and also provides opportunities for independent personal development. The team that developed the idea for entering the Romanian market consists of: Kalin Chervenkov, Stas Uzunov, David Donchev (all three from "Professional High School of Computer Programming and Innovations", Burgas) and Daniel Todorov, American University in Bulgaria, with mentors, managing partners of HR Consulting Partners Yoana Yordanova and Zlatina Kushkieva, and
Team Kamenitza 2, which developed a model for predicting electricity, water, steam, and carbon dioxide consumption in a brewery, consisting of: Lyubomir Nachev, Zdravko Pashov, Yassen Spasov, and Atanas Pozharliev, with mentor Dimitar Naidev, World Class Supply Chain Manager at "Kamenitza" AD.
The award ceremony for the participants took place on 29.02.2024, in the Aula of Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", and was attended by over 60 people from the competing teams, their mentors, organizers, and hosts. The event was also attended by Prof. Dr. Sonya Mileva-Bozhanova, Vice-Rector for Career Development, Alumni, Employer and Business Relations at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", Assoc. Prof. Dr. Agata Manolova, Dean, Faculty of Telecommunications, TU-Sofia, Prof. Dr. Eng. Georgi Todorov, Dean, Faculty of Industrial Technologies, TU-Sofia, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Todor Yalumov, Deputy Dean for "Research, Innovations and Projects", Faculty of Economics, Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski". The seven participating companies recognized the strongest performers from their teams, and some of the participants are already part of the internship selection processes in the companies.
"The hackathon gave us confidence that we can partner with the Technical University to enrich the career opportunities of our students in collaboration with the American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria. Solving real business challenges by mixed student teams with diverse competencies demonstrates not only the potential of young people but also the strategic vision of companies for a new model of cooperation between business and academia that goes beyond guest lectures and internships." – Prof. Dr. Sonia Mileva-Bozhanova, Deputy Rector for Career Development, Alumni, Employer and Business Relations at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", shared with the audience.
"We will continue to work with the energy generated by the hackathon so that dreams of new products, strategies for internationalization, and solutions to the set problems come true with the participation of students from both universities. I am convinced that we will also see examples of new companies built on the acquaintances made during the hackathon." – with these words, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Todor Yalumov, Deputy Dean for "Research, Innovations and Projects", Faculty of Economics, Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", addressed students and partners.
"We, the participants from the Technical University - Sofia, thank all the companies and their mentors, the organizers from the American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria, as well as our colleagues from the Faculty of Economics of SU for this incredible event - Amcham Hackathon 2024. Being part of this hackathon was a unique opportunity. Collaboration with brilliant minds, solving real-world problems - we are grateful for the experience and excited about what is to come. This experience ignited the passion for overcoming boundaries and making a lasting impact through technology. You, dear students and schoolchildren, proved with real examples that the incredible spirit of innovation and boundless potential exist!" – these were the words of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Agata Manolova, Dean, Faculty of Telecommunications, TU-Sofia.
AmCham Hackathon 2024 was initiated and organized for the first time by the American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria (AmCham) in partnership with the Technical University - Sofia and the Faculty of Economics at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski".
96 students from both partner universities, as well as from TU-Plovdiv, American University in Bulgaria, and the "Professional Grammar School of Computer Programming and Innovations, Burgas" registered for the competition. 18 teams were formed, and they were worked with by 20 mentors from the participating companies, as well as mentors from the two higher education institutions.
The initiative set and achieved several goals: contribution of the business association through the expertise of its members to bridge the gap between knowledge acquired in higher education institutions and the practical specifics and needs of business; engaging students in solving specific business cases; showcasing best practices from established companies operating in Bulgaria; retaining students in the country and providing opportunities for subsequent engagement with university programs, as well as opportunities for professional development in companies participating in the Hackathon.
The project was initiated, conceptualized, and organized by member companies of the ATA, which have been among the most active in the Committee on Human Capital and Education for years, with leading roles played by: IBM Bulgaria, Kamennitsa AD, HR Consulting Partners, Adecco Bulgaria, Jobtiger, Moto-Pfoe, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners.
All information about AmCham Hackathon 2024 can be found here.
The target group of the Hackathon consisted of third- and fourth-year students and master's program students at the Technical University and the Faculty of Economics at Sofia University. For the TU, the focus is on students enrolled in the programs 'Engineering', 'Software Engineering', Telecommunications, Artificial Intelligence, 'Cybersecurity', Informatics, 'Data Processing', 'Automotive Electronics', 'Green Energy and RES'. For the Faculty of Economics, the target audience includes students in the bachelor's programs 'Economics and Finance', 'Accounting, Finance and Digital Applications', 'Business Administration', and the master's programs 'Economics and Finance', 'Digital Marketing', 'Management and Entrepreneurship', 'Artificial Intelligence for Business and Finance', 'Gamification', the MBA program accredited by AMBA, and other master's programs.
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