St Aloysius University hosts national hackathon ‘Codesprint’ and food fest

Mangaluru: St Aloysius University (Deemed to be University) inaugurated its 24-hour national-level hackathon, Codesprint, on 10th January 2025, at the L. F. Rasquinha Hall in the university’s LCRI block. The event, organised by the School of Information Science and Technology, was accompanied by the opening of the Aloysian Food Fest.

The inauguration ceremony was graced by Rev. Dr Kiran Cotha, Director of AIMIT, as the Chief Guest, and presided over by Rev. Dr Praveen Martis SJ, Vice Chancellor of the university. The Guests of Honour included Mr Jagadish Bhat, Country Manager of Indian Software Services at IBM, and Ms Salomi D’Souza, a South Indian actress and model. Several university dignitaries, including Dr Charles Furtado, Dr Ravindra Swami, and Mr Royal Praveen D’Souza, were also present.

Inaugural speeches highlight skill development

Rev. Dr Kiran Cotha, addressing the audience, stressed the importance of constant learning and urged participants to explore opportunities like the hackathon to transform skills into action. He introduced the “Red Car Theory” and highlighted the value of openness in innovation.

Mr Jagadish Bhat emphasised the industry’s need for skillsets beyond formal education. He encouraged students to focus on areas such as data analysis, artificial intelligence, coding, and industry-specific software, pointing out their relevance in sectors like healthcare and technology management.

University signs MoU with IBM

A significant milestone of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IBM. Dr Roshan Fredrick D’Souza, Chair of International Relations, elaborated on the collaborative opportunities this MoU will provide, including enhanced exposure to industry practices for students.

Vice Chancellor’s call to action

In his presidential address, Rev. Dr Praveen Martis SJ underscored the importance of bridging the gap between academic knowledge and practical skills. He encouraged participants to engage enthusiastically in the hackathon, recognising its potential as a platform for brainstorming and innovation.

Event highlights

The hackathon has attracted 52 teams, comprising 177 participants from across the country. Students Melrick Ujwal D’Souza, Sheldon Jasper Fernandes, and Sheik Shakeer Ali coordinated the event alongside faculty members.

The inaugural programme was hosted by Ms Ashly, with a vote of thanks proposed by Reema Krishna Jalihal, Assistant Professor of BCA.

The two-day event aims to foster creativity and collaboration among young tech enthusiasts while providing a platform for networking and skill-building.