Results of Regional Hackathon “Future Digital Skills” as part of the pilot project “Digital Competencies of the Future”

Results of Regional Hackathon “Future Digital Skills” as part of the pilot project “Digital Competencies of the Future”

On December 26, 2025, the Regional Hackathon “Future Digital Skills” was held among 7th to 8th graders from secondary schools participating in the pilot project. The event took place as part of implementing the Digital Kazakhstan State Program.

The goal of the Hackathon was to develop digital literacy, engineering and algorithmic thinking, as well as to foster practical programming skills among schoolchildren. The event was aimed at increasing students’ interest in modern digital technologies, engineering and entrepreneurship through the practical application of knowledge in solving real-world engineering and project-based tasks.

The Hackathon participants demonstrated their skills in Python programming, working with Artisan PiBody microcontrollers, 3D modeling, and project thinking. Through teamwork, school students developed prototypes of solutions, presented their own ideas and defended their projects in front of an expert jury.

The Hackathon was held as part of the pilot project “Digital Competencies of the Future” of the program “Developing Digital Literacy within Digital Kazakhstan”, which is part of comprehensive measures to develop digital, engineering and entrepreneurial competencies of students.

Four educational organizations of Ust-Kamenogorsk city of East Kazakhstan region are participating in the STEM pilot project, where the Artisan Education platform and equipment have been implemented:

- Sagadat Nurmagambetov Secondary School No. 4;

- Shokan Ualikhanov Lyceum School No. 3;

- Regional Specialized IT School-Lyceum;

- Secondary School No. 41.

During the four-week practice-oriented educational program, students studied the following areas:

- Python programming using the Artisan PiBody kit;

- 3D modeling in Tinkercad;

- Startup course, focused on developing, presenting, and defending original project ideas.

According to the results of the Hackathon, the winners are:

  • I place – Dream team, Daniil M. Kachesov, Egor V. Katernyuk, Timofey G. Turkovsky - Sagadat Nurmagambetov Secondary School No. 4 of Education Department of Ust-Kamenogorsk city;
  • II place – IT-stem team, Zhantemir T. Sargazin, Shakarim A. Serik, Rufatkyzy Aizere, Alikhan A. Seilkhanov - Regional Specialized IT School-Lyceum of Education Administration of East Kazakhstan region;
  • III place – Team Spirit team, Mantsur A. Mintsafin, Nurzhan R. Musin, Arlan A. Muratpekov, Artem A. Strekmet, Islam S. Khalel - Sagadat Nurmagambetov Secondary School No. 4.

The team that won the first place will participate in the finals of Republican Hackathon, to be held in January, 2026 in Astana city.

The Hackathon confirmed the effectiveness of a practice-oriented approach in shaping students’ digital competencies of the future and demonstrated a high level of student motivation to study STEM disciplines and modern technologies.