The challenges in education in Armenia…
The World Bank's 2022 "Armenia Human Capital Review" reveals that Armenia faces significant challenges in education quality and accessibility, with major inequalities across regions and socioeconomic groups. Although access to early childhood education is improving, children in rural and low-income areas still encounter barriers.
The development of educational technology solutions is crucial for improving both the accessibility and quality of education. It’s important to create local solutions to improve educational materials, streamline teaching, and strengthen digital skills, fostering better employment prospects and lifelong learning.
…and how did the hackathon tackle them
Over the weekend, 70 participants – primarily students from education and technology backgrounds – worked alongside 10 international and local mentors and education experts to prototype digital solutions for the Armenian education sector. The hackathon fostered a dynamic environment where teams focused on improving the quality of educational materials, creating a bridge between academic content and real life, and enhancing remote learning.
“Hackathons are
very valuable for young people, especially those with no prior experience,” said mentor Shaghig Aguilian. “They learn to work together, adapt, and
collaborate in teams – skills that they might not have practiced before but
need to develop. Some teams had to make hard choices, like leaving teammates
behind or bringing in new members. Hackathon helps participants decide if
entrepreneurship is right for them while also building important skills.”
At the start of the hackathon, participants
presented diverse ideas, with some later joining forces to develop stronger
concepts. Guided by experienced mentors from Estonia and Armenia, teams worked
intensively to refine their solutions. Mentors provided crucial technical
advice and insights on the broader impact of the projects.
"Hackathons provide a unique opportunity to gather grassroots input for education reforms," said mentor Heghine Koshtoyan. "It’s a bottom-up approach that also works vertically by raising awareness of critical educational issues. External mentors play a crucial role in mapping and highlighting these challenges, offering fresh perspectives that might not emerge within local settings."
She also highlighted the importance of engaging international experts: "Engaging international mentors broadens perspectives and brings diversity into the problem-solving process. If you stay confined to local environments, problems, and solutions, your scope becomes too narrow. Feedback from external experts – those looking at the issues from outside – helps us see the boundaries of our challenges and identify innovative solutions. It’s an invaluable learning experience for local mentors and participants alike."
"For us as local experts, hackathons reveal where we stand, what knowledge is missing, and what expertise we need to improve. It’s like a mirror reflecting our weaknesses while also teaching us through collaboration with participants and international mentors. This shared learning is incredibly valuable for everyone involved."
Hackathon solutions ranged from
digital platforms for environmental and military education to gamified learning
tools, a cultural heritage promotion platform, and accessible resources for
individuals with mobility challenges. These projects align with the World
Bank’s 2022 Armenia Human Capital Review, which emphasized the need for digital
tools to improve education quality and accessibility.
Winners are to be awarded financial prizes (€2,000 for 1st place; €1,000 for 2nd and 3rd) and up to 8 hours of mentoring to refine their solutions and explore business development opportunities. They will also receive support in connecting with incubators or accelerators to advance their ideas further.
Meet the teams!
Team GetSkills
1st place – winners of a
2000€ grant
The team developed a mobile platform – “a marketplace for education” to make studies more accessible and personalized. It connects students with tutors and educational services available in their local areas. A key feature of the platform is its AI-powered chatbot capable of assessing a student’s knowledge level and suggesting courses tailored to the individual’s needs.
Susanna from Team GetSkills shared their experience: "We felt confident about winning because we put a lot of time, effort, and love into this project. We knew we were on the right track. We started the hackathon with an idea, but the event helped us improve it and add important new features. One of the best parts of this hackathon was meeting great teammates who completed our project. We connected quickly, became friends, and now we plan to keep working together. Without them, we wouldn’t have succeeded. If you’re still thinking about joining a hackathon, don’t hesitate. Go for it! While 48 hours may not seem long, it’s enough time to meet wonderful people, come up with great ideas, and create something meaningful."
Team TeachUp
2nd place – winners of a 1000€ grant
Designed a web and mobile platform offering AI-powered, personalized learning. Users can create and sell video courses, earning money through a gamified system. The platform focuses on enhancing both teaching and learning experiences.
Team Paros
3rd place – winners of a 1000€ grant & the Favourite of the Audience competition
Created a collaborative educational marketplace with a social networking feature. Teachers can monetize courses, and students can access resources while tracking progress. It’s more than just a learning platform – it’s a hub for networking, building connections and enhancing educational experiences.
Team Arm4ess
Designed an online 3D four-player chess game for educational use. Unlike traditional chess, 4-player chess introduces new dynamics with alliances and rivalries, requiring players to balance teamwork with competition. The game fosters strategic thinking and teamwork, integrating these skills into formal education programs.
Team Eco Thinking
Developed a hybrid card and mobile game to teach children environmental awareness. The game offers an interactive and fun way for players to tackle real-world environmental challenges while enhancing their problem-solving skills.
Team Empty Space
Launched a digital platform to preserve and promote Armenian culture. Users explore art, literature, and cinema interactively. By digitizing Armenian cultural treasures, Empty Space seeks to ensure their preservation for future generations.
Team STEAMzone Board Game
Created a board game connecting science and humanities. With over 1,000 questions, it promotes critical thinking and teamwork while fostering appreciation and cooperation between people with different background.
Team Hayascope
Built a geopolitical blog to engage Armenian youth in in critical thinking and meaningful discussions on politics and global issues. The platform serves as a forum and community space where users can share thoughts and access relevant news and content.
Team Vaas
Introduced an interactive approach to teaching military science in schools by integrating elements of video games into the curriculum. The project aims to make military education more engaging and impactful through interactive lessons inspired by games like World of Guns.
Team Armcode
Designed an inclusive educational platform leveraging VR, AR, and AI to support children with disabilities. It offers engaging, home-based learning experiences tailored to enhance creativity, communication, and knowledge while breaking barriers to traditional education.
Team e-Looys
Proposed a professional education program for high school students, featuring aptitude assessments, mentorship, and project-based learning. The program helps students explore career paths through practical experiences and connections with industry professionals.
Team Smarties
Designed a gamified learning platform to make education fun and rewarding. Students earn points through quizzes and challenges, redeemable for real-world rewards like theater tickets. The platform combines multimedia content with staged competitions to deepen knowledge and incentivize learning.
A Step Toward Educational Transformation
Each of these projects reflects the passion and creativity of Armenia’s innovators, addressing challenges like inclusivity, digital literacy, and cultural preservation. With continued mentorship and support, these ideas have the potential to transform education in Armenia, bridging gaps and fostering equal opportunities for all.
Congratulations to all the participants for their incredible work during the hackathon! We wish you every success in your future endeavors!
The project is funded by the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV).
#edtecharmenia
#FromThePeopleOfEstonia #ESTDEV
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