Mangaluru: The School of Information Science and Technology of St Aloysius (Deemed to be University), Mangaluru, successfully hosted Code Sprint 2026, a national-level hackathon that brought together innovation, logic, and collaboration in a continuous 32-hour marathon of coding and problem-solving.
The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from over 200 students across 53 teams, making it one of the largest national-level technical initiatives organised by the University. The inaugural ceremony on January 30 marked the formal beginning of the hackathon with the theme of celebrating “code as poetry”, highlighting creativity alongside technical excellence.
A vibrant and inspiring inauguration
The programme opened with a graceful welcome dance by the Nritya Ensemble, setting an energetic and inspiring tone for the hackathon. The ceremonial lighting of the lamp followed, symbolising the beginning of an intellectually driven journey rooted in knowledge, innovation, and collaboration.
The welcome address and introductory sessions outlined the vision behind Code Sprint, recalling the success of Code Sprint 2025 and reaffirming the goal of nurturing future-ready technologists capable of strengthening India’s position in technological innovation and implementation.
Emphasis on real-world problem solving
The Chief Guest, Srinivas Prabhu, CEO and Founder of Codezyng, addressed the participants and stressed the importance of continuous learning, adaptability, and critical thinking in a rapidly evolving world shaped by artificial intelligence and robotics. He encouraged students to look beyond building applications and instead focus on solving meaningful real-world problems that create social and economic impact.
In a symbolic gesture recognising innovation and originality, the “symbols of victory” were unveiled during a trophy ceremony led by the Guest of Honour Mohammed Athuf along with other dignitaries, honouring those who “think differently” and challenge conventional approaches.
Presidential address and institutional vision
Delivering the presidential address, Praveen Martis, Vice Chancellor of St Aloysius University, urged students to participate in hackathons and innovation platforms with full commitment and passion. He highlighted that technology is evolving at an unprecedented pace and called upon young innovators to grow alongside it, using their skills to address the challenges of the future.
Collaboration, creativity and endurance
The formal ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Ms Reema Krishna Jalihal, who expressed gratitude to the University leadership, sponsors, mentors, media partners, and organising team for their support. The emcee for the programme was Mr Joshua, while the prayer song was rendered by Anshul and team, the college choir.
With the official launch complete, Code Sprint 2026 commenced its 32-hour journey of intense coding, strategic thinking, teamwork, and creativity—providing participants with a platform to innovate, collaborate, and push the boundaries of technology-driven solutions.
The hackathon reaffirmed St Aloysius University’s commitment to experiential learning, innovation-led education, and the development of future technology leaders equipped to contribute meaningfully to society.
