Hackathon Training for Trainers: Conducting Hackathons at Cyberparks

The Conducting Hackathons at Cyberparks TOT sessions were designed to strengthen the skills of over 30 agents from Tunisia’s cyberparks. The aim was to equip them with the knowledge and tools necessary to organize and facilitate effective hackathons, focused on digital transformation in public services.

This initiative was organized by Future Islands, with support from GIZ and the Digital4Reform program, benefiting the team at the Smart Regional Centers.

The challenge lies in the new strategic vision for Smart Regional Centers, transforming them from simple hosting spaces into vibrant hubs of work, creativity, and innovation. These centers are now aimed at fostering collective intelligence among young designers and innovators, empowering them with the skills needed to integrate into the labor market. Despite the growing need for innovation and entrepreneurship in Tunisia’s regions, there is a gap in structured training for local agents to successfully organize and facilitate hackathons that can help accelerate the country’s digital transformation efforts.

To address these challenges, Future Islands organized a training program focused on enabling participants to plan, organize, facilitate, and evaluate hackathons. The training was conducted for two groups, each consisting of 15+ participants from various S2T organizations across the country. The key elements of the training included:

• Training Methodology: A blend of theoretical knowledge on hackathon processes and practical activities, such as the Lego Serious Play method, allowed participants to engage in collective intelligence, imagination, and creativity.
• Simulated Scenarios: Scenarios closely related to real-life hackathon experiences helped participants better prepare for the different stages of organizing a hackathon, from planning to evaluation.
• Active Participation: The sessions fostered an active learning environment, where participants could contribute, ask questions, and reflect on their previous experiences, making the sessions highly interactive and engaging.

The training was successful in reaching its objectives, with all participants gaining the necessary skills to lead and facilitate hackathons. The outcomes of the training included:

• Over 30 agents from Tunisia’s cyberparks trained in the effective implementation of hackathons.
• A clear understanding of the hackathon process, including planning, organizing, facilitating, and evaluating.
• Positive feedback from participants on the methodologies used, with many praising the interactive and practical approach.
• The issuance of participation certificates to all attendees, affirming their new expertise.

By empowering local agents to organize hackathons, Future Islands and its partners have contributed to the growth of innovation hubs in Tunisia, fostering a dynamic and collaborative environment for regional tech development.