DE’Hackathon returned for a second edition, themed “Unlocking AI in NUS”. Organised by NUS IT, the hackathon was designed to foster creativity and innovation among NUS staff, and encourage cross-departmental collaboration to develop new, innovative solutions using Digital Enablement (DE) tools and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to address real-life challenges and transform work processes.
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Happy smiles all around from the participating 11 teams and preliminary round judges!
Nearly 50 staff from 24 NUS departments came together this year to form 11 teams, all vying for the top three spots. The hackathon week commenced on 8 July and culminated in a finale event held on 12 July at the University Hall auditorium where participating teams presented their innovative solutions and prizes were awarded to winning teams.
There was an extraordinary display of collaboration at the event, with four of the teams each comprising members from three different departments and one team comprising members from five departments.
At the finale event, NUS Chief Information Technology Officer Ms Tan Shui-Min shared that the solutions developed during this hackathon could potentially save 400,000 man-hours for the University—a tenfold increase from the previous hackathon in 2022.
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Guest-of-Honour, NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye, delivering his closing speech.
In his speech, Guest-of-Honour, NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye reiterated the role of events like DE’Hackathon in building a culture of excellence and innovation at NUS.
“The theme for this year, "Unlocking AI in NUS," speaks of the university's progressive approach to integrating AI into our administration, research, as well as teaching and learning, making it a vital part of our day-to-day work and giving us a boost in our digital transformation journey,” said Prof Tan, adding that he is heartened to see so many departments coming together, leveraging each other’s strengths, expertise and experience to address issues in a cross-disciplinary manner.
Highlights and Achievements
Three teams emerged as the top contenders amid intense competition with their creative solutions.
The top prize was awarded to “UCI Canteen Dining Experience”, a collaboration between University Campus Infrastructure (UCI) – Campus Services and NUS IT, which sought to streamline the analysis of canteen survey data and improve dining experiences using AI and DE tools. The proposed solution will save approximately 538 manhours by reducing manual processes.
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NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye (far right) with the winning team which comprised (from left to right) Ryan Ch'ng from UCI, Simon Woo from NUS IT, Khin Nilar Hlaing from NUS IT, Ariyl Ang from UCI and Zhong Ziqian from UCI.
The first-runners-up, 10Xplorers, comprised staff from Office of Risk Management and Compliance and NUS IT. The team’s solution was to design and build Learn Buddy AI, an AI-powered assistant for video-based learning. The solution will help learners to better comprehend information from video content by breaking down and explaining intricate concepts in an easy-to-understand manner. The solution has the potential to save about 5,200 manhours per year.
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From left to right: NUS President Prof Tan Eng Chye with the 10Xplorers team represented by Hairulnizam Bin Ishak from OMRC, Lee Kum Hing from NUS IT, Goh Keng Beng from OMRC and Lionel Yap from OMRC.
ProcureAI, a Windows-based application developed by the Office of the President and the Central Procurement Office, was placed third. The application aims to enhance efficiency and accuracy in procurement sourcing tasks by integrating AI-Know, an online platform developed by NUS to provide quick access to a wide range of information and resources related to the university. The project could potentially save 2,730 manhours per year.
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From left to right: NUS President Prof Tan Eng Chye with the ProcureAI team represented by Lim Eng Xiong, Michael Ng and Ng Jia Jia from CPO.
Additionally, awards were presented to the top department and faculty for their outstanding participation in this year's hackathon, which were snagged by the Office of the President and the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine respectively.
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(Photo on the left) Chief Agility Officer Roy Tan accepting the Outstanding Participation trophy on behalf of the Office of the President. Embracing sustainability and inspired by World Cup traditions, the trophy will be recycled for use in future hackathon events.
(Photo on the right) Senior Director of Administration Bhupinder Singh receiving the award, a customised bITbIT plushie, on behalf of the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine.
A promising precedent for future events
As NUS continues to embrace the ever-evolving landscape of digital transformation, the success of DE’Hackathon 2024 sets a promising precedent for future events. NUS IT remains dedicated to harnessing the power of AI and DE tools to revolutionise education, research and administration, co-create new learning experiences, and enhance administrative efficiency.
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