The German Jordanian University (GJU) has officially launched the GJU Innovate for Impact – Social Impact & Sustainability Hackathon, under the umbrella of the international project Doing Good, Growing Strong, in collaboration with Brunel University and Lund University.
Running from November 12, 2025, to January 5, 2026, the hackathon is a student-focused innovation challenge designed to empower GJU students and members of the Doing Good, Growing Strong community to develop creative, sustainable, and socially impactful solutions to real challenges within the university.
Participants will engage in structured learning, benefit from expert mentorship, and compete for cash prizes totaling 2,200 JOD awarded to the top three teams.
The hackathon kicked off with a workshop led by Dr. Eva Haddad, introducing participants to the innovation process. Following the workshop, students will engage in a bi-weekly mentorship phase with specialists who will guide them through refining their solutions ahead of the Final Pitch event on January 5, 2026.
During the Final Pitch, 5–6 finalist teams will present their business concepts and action plans to a judging panel. In addition to cash prizes, the top three winning teams will receive continued mentorship to support the implementation of their ideas within GJU.
This year’s hackathon challenges invite students to creatively rethink campus experience and sustainability through six key themes:
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Campus Life Reimagined – Enhancing fun, connectivity, and engagement on campus
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Smarter Commute, Happier Students – Improving accessibility, affordability, and social aspects of commuting
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Study Smart, Not Hard – Helping students collaborate better, manage stress, and improve study methods
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Waste to Wow! – Transforming campus waste into useful or innovative outcomes
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Wellbeing Warriors – Integrating wellbeing into everyday student life
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GJU Connect – Strengthening ties between students, alumni, and professors
During the event, Dr. Abdelrahman Zuraik presented the Innovation Pillar, showcasing examples of innovative practices and outlining the hackathon’s goals, structure, and timeline.
Project team members Arch. Dana Al-Lafi and Mrs. Ghufran Abu Dayieh provided an overview of the Doing Good, Growing Strong initiative and its alignment with GJU’s wider innovation strategy and culture.
The session closed with a dynamic Q&A discussion, setting an enthusiastic tone for the weeks ahead as participants advance from ideation to mentorship and finally to pitching impactful solutions that support GJU’s innovation ecosystem.