World Engineering Day Hackathon 2026

The National University of Science and Technology (NUST) achieved a spectacular "double victory" at the 2026 Zimbabwe Institute of Engineers World Engineering Day Hackathon, securing both first and second place. The winning team took top honours in Challenge 3 (SDG 14 & 15) for their innovative constructed wetland system. By repurposing Platinum Granulated Furnace Slag and Alum Sludge, they developed a reactive substrate to reverse heavy metal contamination and eutrophication in the Umguza River. NUST’s second-place team excelled in Challenge 2 (SDG 12) with AURORO-Nexus, a digital-twin platform designed to optimise sustainability in commercial and residential infrastructure. Together, these victories cement NUST’s status as a leader in Zimbabwean engineering and sustainable innovation. The winning team is proceeding to the World Engineering Day Hackathon in Indonesia. It's an annual international competition that brings together engineering students and young engineers from around the world to tackle real-world problems. It's organised by the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) with the support of UNESCO. The Hackathon will be held from March 3-5 2026.