An official government website affiliated with the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
King Khalid University, represented by the Deanship of E-Services and the Deanship of Student Affairs, is launching the third edition of the Sustainability in Education Hackathon, Eduthon 3, from May 14 to 16, 2026, in strategic partnership with the National eLearning Center, and with the participation of entities including Najran University, Jazan University, University of Bisha, Al-Baha University, and Health Affairs at the Ministry of National Guard.
The third edition witnessed remarkable interest, with 190 submitted projects prepared by more than 730 male and female participants from various regions of the Kingdom. A total of 30 projects qualified for the in-person hackathon stage after a screening and evaluation process based on approved criteria, where their teams will compete to develop innovative and sustainable digital solutions that contribute to addressing education challenges and enhancing the quality of its outcomes.
The University Vice President for Educational Affairs, Prof. Saad bin Mohammed bin Daajam, affirmed that this turnout reflects the growing awareness of the importance of innovation in developing education and embodies King Khalid University’s role in empowering creative minds and opening pathways for distinguished ideas to become applicable projects. He noted that the partnership with the National eLearning Center and the participation of several universities and national entities strengthen institutional integration in supporting educational innovation.
For his part, the General Supervisor of the hackathon, Dr. Hamed Al-Qahtani, explained that the qualified projects will compete within specialized tracks that include personalized learning experience, academic advising, career guidance, and digital inclusion. He indicated that the hackathon is not limited to competition, but also seeks to nurture promising solutions and enable them with opportunities for development, experimentation, and adoption.
The Deputy General Supervisor of the hackathon, Dr. Adel Al-Surai’i, also affirmed that work on this edition was carried out according to an integrated operational system aimed at providing a professional experience for participants from the registration stage through to final judging. He noted that the qualified teams will find a stimulating environment that combines mentoring, teamwork, and positive competition, helping them transform their ideas into developable prototypes.
The hackathon will conclude on the evening of Saturday, May 16, with the announcement of the winners and the honoring of outstanding projects, amid expectations that its outcomes will contribute to building sustainable educational solutions that affirm King Khalid University’s presence in leading qualitative initiatives that bring together education, technology, and innovation.
