About the challenge
This is the Inaugural Hackathon hosted by Acacia College, an AI-themed Residential College dedicated to exploring the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Human Intelligence.
This year’s hackathon, themed “Reimagining Residential Life”, is an interdisciplinary-friendly hackathon which invites you to rethink and enhance the on-campus living experience. The hackathon aims to improve the overall quality of student life in residential communities by encouraging innovative, practical solutions to everyday challenges.
So, if you’ve ever caught yourself thinking, “Why is no one fixing this?”- this is your opportunity to step up, drive change, and propose a solution to an issue that’s been bothering you (and probably many others too).
Note:
This hackathon is limited to all Residential Colleges (Acacia College, College of Alice & Peter Tan, NUS College, Residential College 4, Ridge View Residential College and Tembusu College) and University Town Residence.
Get started
We strongly encourage (but not compulsory) Inter-RC teams so if you don't know someone outside of your own residence, this is your chance to socialise with other humans outside your residence.
Point of Contact:
Aanya Mathur (Project Director)
Email: [email protected]
Telegram: @ammath2006
Follow us on Instagram
Acacia College (@acacia.college) • Instagram photos and videos
Acacia Ventures (@acacia.ventures) • Instagram photos and videos
https://www.instagram.com/acacia_hackathonsoc
Join our Telegram chat for all the updates: https://t.me/+ze14ceCT6_k3NmY1
Requirements
What to Build
Build anything related to making residential life better. Any automation, productivity tool, or design that helps a residence in UTown become better works!
What to Submit (Round 1):
To complete your submission for the Student Life Track Hackathon - “Reimagining Residential Life”, please include the following:
1. Project Video (Required)
- A 3 minute demo video, clearly explaining:
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The problem you are addressing
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Why it matters in the context of residential life
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Your proposed solution
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A walkthrough of your prototype/MVP/demo (if applicable)
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The write-up and video should be uploaded to DevPost directly by 20 March 2026, 12:00 hrs SGT.
2. Project Description (Required)
Provide a clear written explanation covering:
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Problem Statement - What issue in residential life are you solving?
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Your Solution - How does your idea address this problem?
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How It Works - Technical overview (AI components, system architecture, tools used, etc.)
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Impact & Feasibility - How will this improve student experience? Can it realistically be implemented?
3. Prototype / Code Repository (If Applicable)
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GitHub repository link (public or with access granted)
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Clear README with setup instructions
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Screenshots of your prototype
4. Additional Materials (Optional but Recommended)
- Slides or pitch deck
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UI mockups
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Architecture diagrams
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User testing insights
Note:
- Fully functional MVP not required for Round 1 (but is required for Round 2).
- User Insights, Problem Validation, Feasibility, Execution Quality & Scalability matter most in this competition.
Prizes
1st Place
The winning team of Round 2 will be receiving vouchers worth of S$1000.
2nd Place
The first runner-up of Round 2 will be receiving vouchers worth S$600.
3rd Place
The second runner-up of Round 2 will be receiving vouchers worth S$300.
4th, 5th,6th Place
The runners-up will receive vouchers worth S$100 per team.
Most Ridiculous Solution
S$50 Popular Bookstore Voucher
Rizz Master Award
NUS Merchandise
Devpost Achievements
Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:
Judges
Heng Cheng Suang
Associate Professor & Chair, NUS Teaching Academy.
Peter Pang
Associate Professor, National University of Singapore
Loy Hui Chieh
Associate Professor, National University of Singapore
Helen Chai
Dr., National University of Singapore
Misty So-Sum Wai-Cook
Deputy Director, Senior Lecturer, National University of Singapore
Eunice NG
Dr., National University of Singapore
Eric Kerr
Director of Residential Life, National University of Singapore
Bimlesh Wadhwa
Vice-Dean, Student Life, National University of Singapore
Toh Tai Chong
Director of Residential Life, National University of Singapore
Daniel PS Goh
Associate Professor, National University of Singapore
Judging Criteria
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Innovation & Creativity (30%)
Originality, Solution Design and Differentiation, Experience Innovation -
Impact & Relevance (30%)
Problem Clarity and Validation, User Understanding, Impact Depth and Measurability -
Feasibility & Sustainability (35%)
Technical Viability, Functional Viability, Long-Term Sustainability, Scalability and Integration -
Presentation & Storytelling (5%)
Clarity and Structure, Execution Quality
Questions? Email the hackathon manager
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