George Brown College's School of Computer Technology has emerged victorious, winning first place in Zone 4 of the Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) National Skills for Success Student Hackathon held on March 22-23, 2025. The two-day event brought together talented students from across Canada to collaborate on developing an innovative interactive online tool for career pathway exploration.
A collaborative tech challenge
Fifteen students from the Casa Loma campus participated in the competition, demonstrating remarkable creativity and teamwork while addressing real-world challenges in real time. The hackathon provided students with a unique opportunity to engage directly with industry professionals and explore human-centred design principles. Hackathon participants were challenged to optimize CICan’s interactive online tool to make it easier for learners to identify skills, understand educational gaps and be matched with related training opportunities.
"What truly sets our team apart is not only the students’ technical expertise but also their capacity to tackle complex challenges with creativity and a collaborative spirit,” said Andrew Rudder, School of Computer Technology faculty and event mentor. "This hackathon is more than a competition—it’s an opportunity for our students to demonstrate their potential in solving real-world problems that could impact the lives of so many in a meaningful way.”
Beyond competition: Real-world impact
The hackathon not only provided students with a competitive platform but also offered a meaningful learning experience. Participants received an honorarium and a Certificate of Participation, recognizing their significant contributions to developing a tool that could potentially transform career pathway planning for Canadians.
"Our team's success reflects the exceptional talent and collaborative spirit of our computer technology students," said Albert Danison, Associate Dean of the School of Computer Technology. “Technology education needs to go hand in hand with industry applications. Through hackathons like this and formal competitions such as Skills Ontario, we complement classroom theory and skills development with opportunities for our students to innovate alongside industry and the wider tech community. “
With this impressive victory, GBC continues to demonstrate its leadership in technological innovation and student development by preparing students for the rapidly evolving tech landscape. This achievement proves that practical, real-world experiences are essential for equipping the next generation of tech professionals.
Ready to code? Start your journey at GBC’s School of Computer Technology
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