Teesside University leads global student innovation in international hackathon

Teesside University has spearheaded an international hackathon, bringing together over 100 students from four global partner institutions to co-create social enterprise solutions addressing global challenges.

Students from Teesside University International Business School collaborated with peers from Nanyang Polytechnic (Singapore), INTI International University (Malaysia), and BINUS University (Indonesia).

Supported by the Turing Scheme and Teesside’s sustainable mobility initiatives, the programme focused on developing business concepts aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Over the course of a month, students worked in international teams to tackle issues around sustainability, education and digital transformation.

The initiative culminated in a final pitch event, where 18 cross-institutional teams presented their ideas to a panel of experts, including representatives from Teesside University and Grant Thornton.

The hackathon highlighted the power of cross-cultural collaboration and enterprise-led problem solving. Its success has attracted interest from institutions in Vietnam and Rome, with plans to embed the initiative into Teesside’s MSc International Business Management programme next year.

Dominic Dunn, Associate Dean (International) for Teesside University International Business School, said: "This initiative reflects Teesside University’s commitment to global learning and innovation.

"By connecting students across borders to address shared challenges, we’re equipping future leaders with the skills and mindset needed to make a meaningful impact.”

The partnership continues to thrive, with a repeat online hackathon and student exchanges between Southeast Asia and the UK planned for next year.

A joint guest lecture series featuring academics from all four institutions on global business, entrepreneurship and digital transformation has also been launched.

What began as a collaboration between four institutions is now evolving into a global network of learners and educators, united by a shared commitment to creativity, enterprise and sustainable development.

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