Seminar “Crack the Hack: Strategic Guidelines for Hackathon Success” On 23.02.2026

The Department of Data Science organized a career-focused seminar titled "Crack the Hack: Strategic Guidelines for Hackathon Success " on 23rd February 2026 (Tuesday) at 10:00 a.m. in ICT Hall – II. The session was attended by 125 participants, comprising students from B.Sc Data Science and M.Sc. Data Science and Master of Computer Applications.

Mrs. N. Kalpana, Head of the Department of Data Science, extended a warm welcome to the dignitaries, guest speaker, faculty members, and student participants. In her address, she emphasized that hackathons are not merely competitions, but experiential learning opportunities that sharpen technical expertise, teamwork, creativity, and time management skills.

She expressed her gratitude to the management for their constant encouragement and highlighted that such sessions act as vital stepping stones for students, helping them understand industry demands and align their learning accordingly. She acknowledged the presence of the chief guest Dr. P. S. Eliahim Jeevaraj, Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science, Bishop Heber College, and appreciated his willingness to share valuable insights of Hackathon.

Dr. K.T. Tamilmani, Vice Principal, in his address, remarked that the word “hack” does not merely mean coding, but refers to smart techniques, innovative tricks, and strategic thinking required to solve real-world problems efficiently. He explained that learning to “hack” is about approaching challenges with creativity, clarity, and confidence. He also highlighted insights from the recent AI Summit, where experts discussed the rapid advancements in Artificial Intelligence, emerging technologies, and the growing demand for skilled professionals who can adapt quickly to dynamic industry trends. He emphasized that students must stay updated with such developments and cultivate both technical expertise and innovative thinking to succeed in competitive platforms like hackathons.

Dr. M. Meenakshisundaram, SF Stream Coordinator, delivered his words of encouragement. They emphasized that while technical knowledge is essential, strategic planning, communication skills, leadership qualities, and presentation skills play a crucial role in winning hackathons. They motivated students to utilize such opportunities to enhance both their technical and soft skills.

The seminar on “Crack the Hack: Strategic Guidelines for Hackathon Success” was delivered by Dr. P. S. Eliahim Jeevaraj, Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science, Bishop Heber College. In his presentation, he provided deep insights into the real dynamics of hackathons, highlighting the “brutal truth” that a majority of teams fail due to lack of strategy, clarity, and execution. He emphasized that winning a hackathon is not about coding skills alone, but about problem clarity, innovation, feasibility, UI/UX, business value, and effective presentation. He explained the importance of mindset engineering, pre- hackathon preparation, team structure, and technology selection. Students were guided on how to choose the right problem, validate it quickly, avoid over-ambitious ideas, and focus on building a working demo within limited time. He also shared practical strategies such as using pre-trained AI models instead of training from scratch, preparing reusable assets, and practicing the final pitch multiple times before presentation.

The resource person further illustrated his session with real case studies like GroupMe, EasyTaxi, AI-based Crop Disease Detection systems, and Fake News Detection tools, explaining how successful teams focused on solving real problems with clear user value and a functional demo. He stressed that judges evaluate solutions like investors, looking for scalability, social impact, and clarity in communication. Special emphasis was given to Smart India Hackathon (SIH), where presentation clarity and alignment with national priorities can significantly influence results. The session concluded with an interactive exercise where students were divided into teams and asked to propose solutions under themes such as AI for Education, Sustainability, and Healthcare, enabling them to practically apply the strategic framework shared during the seminar.

The Master of Ceremonies for the seminar was gracefully handled by Ms. Yogitha and Ms. Tharuni of II B.Sc. Data Science, who coordinated the proceedings smoothly and ensured the program progressed in a well-organized manner. The session concluded with the Vote of Thanks delivered by Mrs. S. Indirani, who expressed sincere gratitude to the chief guest, dignitaries, management, faculty members, and students for their valuable presence and contribution in making the seminar a grand success.

The seminar “Crack the Hack: Strategic Guidelines for Hackathon Success” proved to be highly informative and inspiring. It provided students with practical insights into hackathon strategies, teamwork, execution planning, and effective presentation techniques. The session not only enhanced their understanding of competitive problem-solving but also motivated them to actively participate in upcoming hackathons with greater confidence and preparation. Overall, the program served as a significant step toward strengthening students’ industry readiness and innovative mindset.

Follow US For More Photos :   Faceook   Instagram     For More Photos