Hackathon 2026: A 24‑hour celebration of innovation and talent

The Sir Ian Wood Building was transformed this weekend as hackers, hipsters and hustlers from universities across the UK came together for RGU Hackathon 2026 – a fast‑paced 24‑hour innovation sprint that brought creativity, collaboration and problem‑solving to the forefront.

More than 200 competitors, working in 38 cross‑disciplinary teams, took on three real‑world challenges set by our industry partners. In just one day, teams designed, built and presented innovative solutions that showcased the best of emerging talent. 

Innovation and Teamwork

The atmosphere in the Sir Ian Wood Building was fuelled by a combination of caffeine, creativity, and pizza as students worked around the clock to develop prototypes, test ideas, and prepare their final pitches. From virtual escape rooms to smart sustainability solutions, the range of outputs highlighted the creativity and technical capability of students. 

And adding to the buzz, RGU Motorsport ran a sim racing competition that kept spirits high and added a fun competitive edge. 

A huge congratulations to RGU Computing Society and to Jordan Newlands, Hackathon lead, who did an outstanding job organising the entire event - an impressive leadership effort. 

Staff Support

Behind the scenes there was a brilliant team of staff who gave their time and expertise. They included: 

 

• John Isaacs, Dean of the School of Computing, Engineering & Technology, who oversaw the robots. 
• Chris Moule, Head of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, delivered a standout workshop on ‘Presenting with Confidence’, helping students elevate their final pitches. 
• Maria Bell, IEN Programme Coordinator, offered insight and creativity throughout - and captured the energy of the event through stunning photography. 
• Ross McLean, lecturer in Computing, was on hand to advise, troubleshoot and motivate students. 
• Ian Harris was sharing tips and expertise on computer networks and much more.
• Elodie from Aramark was working at 4am on Sunday to make sure breakfast rolls were ready to keep students going. 
• Shona Clark, School Administration Team Lead, and Rianne Gorman, Finance Administrator, worked closely with the Computing Society, guiding them along the way. They were there from the very first planning meeting in September 2025 to the very last "well done and get some sleep" to close the event out.
• Lynne Brien, Project Co-Ordinator, who made sure everything went to plan. 

Strengthening Industry Engagement and Employability

This year’s hackathon sparked conversations with sponsors about the growing importance of:

 

• Authentic employability experiences
• Early connections with emerging talent
• Deep partnership between education and industry

As Reece Mackie, Software Engineer at Sword Group, said: 

“Hundreds of students, all in one room, building really cool stuff – the energy is always really fantastic. RGU Hackathon puts students in front of employers and lets them show off the skills that they can build outside of academia.”

These discussions reflect what makes the RGU Hackathon model so powerful: it’s work‑integrated learning at its best - co‑designed with industry, rooted in real challenges, and delivering meaningful value to organisations and learners alike. 

A Huge Thank You

A massive thank you to everyone who took part - from our incredible RGU Computing Society, the student participants, and colleagues and staff who helped create such a vibrant and memorable event.

RGU Hackathon 2026 was a celebration of talent, creativity, and the collaborative spirit that defines our University.