DEI4SME HACKATHONS

Hackathon I (February 4-19) – updated program

Hackathon I, Finland & Online - Program 

The schedule is almost complete, but a few changes may still appear.

Some sessions are marked with the sign: ֍ , this means that the session will be mandatory for some teams; students will know whether this is mandatory for them and their team only when the hackathon starts, and the case challenges are announced. 

The location of the events and happenings are marked as online or in-person. Online sessions are available to participants who registered as attending online and in-person, a link to the online session will be provided to everyone.  

All the times written in this program are given in UTC+2 (Finland, Helsinki time zone), to convert hours in your own time zone you may use this tool: https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html or any other tool convenient to you. 

 

Date & Time (UTC+2)  Location  Event description  Date & Time (UTC+2)  Location  Event description 
           
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4TH: OPENING EVENT 
15:30-16:00  Online  Logging in to the event 

Rolling a video "DEI is like walking on the frozen sea" participants can explore posters with cases online

15:30-16:15  In person 

 

Arriving at the venue:

Tervahovi, D124, University of Vaasa, Campus, Vaasa

 Rolling a video "DEI is like walking on the frozen sea" and exposition of the cases’ posters 

16:00-16:15  Online  Welcoming words  

Tanja Risikko, Vice-Rector (Education), University of Vaasa, Finland

Aušrinė Šilenskytė, DEI4SME Project leader & Program manager, University of Vaasa, Finland

16:15-16:45 

 

Online 

 

For students and companies who join online 

Introduction to the hackathon for online participants 

Tiphaine Delecour, Project Researcher & Project Coordinator, University of Vaasa, Finland

Introduction and explanation of the hackathon rules and guidelines to participants.  

In this session the students will get to know the rules, the schedule, the games, and other specifics of the hackathon organization.  

 16:30-16:45   

In person

For students and companies who join in person 

 

Welcoming words  

Tanja Risikko, Vice-Rector (Education), University of Vaasa, Finland

Aušrinė Šilenskytė, DEI4SME Project leader & Program manager, University of Vaasa, Finland

 

16:45-16:55 

Online  Q&A 

Online participants will be able to ask questions on the hackathon rules and guidelines presented earlier 

 

16:45-17:00 

 

In person 

Insights on DEI and Live Music by  

Francis Oyeyiola 

Talent/Career/Personal Development Coach, and Founder of Kpanlogo Yede 

17:00-18:40  Online & In person  Companies’ introduction & challenges presentation 

In this session, students will get familiar with all the companies participating in the hackathon, and the challenges they are offering to students.  

FI: DIMECC, Harri Kulmala, CEO (17-17:10)

AT: Consulting4future, Barbara Sabitzer, CEO  (17:10-17:20)

FI: Amplon, Kimmo Kallioniemi, CEO (17:20-17:30)

AT: TIPS, Martin Eberhart, CEO (17:30-17:40)

FI: AddSearch, Helena Rebane, CEO (17:40-17:55)

FI: Foamit, Tiina Partanen, Head of Sustainability & PMO and Jenny Peräsarka SuperCO HR, CEO (17:55-18:05)

FI: Finvacon, Kaj Sunden, CEO (18:05-18:15)

AT: Top Training (18:15-18:25)

FI: Merinova, Tauno Kekäle, Project Manager (18:25-18:35)

AT: Hausmasters, Corinne Jung (18:35-18:45)

17:00-18:40  In person & Online  Companies’ introduction & challenges presentation 

In this session, students will get familiar with all the companies participating in the hackathon, and the challenges they are offering to students. 

FI: DIMECC, Harri Kulmala, CEO (17-17:10)

AT: Consulting4future, Barbara Sabitzer, CEO  (17:10-17:20)

FI: Amplon, Kimmo Kallioniemi, CEO (17:20-17:30)

AT: TIPS, Martin Eberhart, CEO(17:30-17:40)

FI: AddSearch, Helena Rebane, CEO (17:40-17:55)

FI: Foamit, Tiina Partanen, Head of Sustainability & PMO and Jenny Peräsarka SuperCO HR, CEO (17:50-18:05)

FI: Finvacon, Kaj Sunden, CEO (18:05-18:15)

AT: Top Training (18:15-18:25)

FI: Merinova, Tauno Kekäle, Project Manager (18:25-18:35)

AT: Hausmasters, Corinne Jung (18:35-18:45)

 

18:45 – 19:00 

 

Online 

Networking opportunities 

Networking between students and companies who are joining online. 

18:45-19:00  In person  Networking opportunities 

Networking between students and companies who are joining in person. 

19:00-19:30  Online  Closing Q&A  

Online students will have the possibility to ask any remaining questions. 

Online activity 

Online students will have the possibility to take part in an evening fun activity! 

Tiphaine Delecour, Project Researcher & Project Coordinator, University of Vaasa, Finland

19:00-19:30 

 

 

In person 

For students and companies who join in person. 

Introduction to hackathon for onsite participants 

Introduction and explanation of the hackathon rules and guidelines to participants.  

In this session the students will get to know the rules, the schedule, the games, and other specifics of the hackathon organization.

Aušrinė Šilenskytė, DEI4SME Project leader & Program manager, University of Vaasa, Finland

19:30  Online  End of the program for the online participants.  19:30-20:00  In person  Celebration of the opening & Networking 

Small snack & drinks, networking and fun for the students, company representatives, and DEI experts joining in person. 

           
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5TH: STUDENT WORKING TIME 
On preferred time  Online or in person  Students working time 

The students organize their teams’ working time by themselves, online or in person. A hackathon demands work, and as such the students are encouraged to take initiative and decide with their team how they set up the working on solutions time. 

16:00-17:00
Online  Presentation-Mentoring session 

European regulatory environment for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and social sustainability. 

Tauno Kekäle, Project Manager at Merinova Technology Center and Professor at the University of Vaasa, Finland. This session is open for all participants. Recommended to all teams.

17:00-18:00  Online  Presentation-Mentoring session 

Global reporting standards 

Dr. Kees Krul, postdoctoral researcher at Rotterdam School of Management (Erasmus University), and founder of SustainabilityReports.com, will introduce students to the sustainability reporting at a global level. This session is open for all participants. Recommended to all teams.

18:00-19:30  Online  Mentoring session: Book a personal 20 min time for your team with a coach!

Pavla Skorpilova offers students a mentoring opportunity. During the session, the mentor will guide your team to explore challenges from different perspectives, to make it easier for you to uncover key opportunities to advance your ideas. Through guided questions, the session is designed to empower your team to think critically, reframe problems, align on goals, and channel your efforts into a more focused path forward.  

           
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6TH: STUDENT WORKING TIME 
On preferred time  Online or in person  Students working time 

The students organize their teams’ working time by themselves, online or in person. A hackathon demands work, and as such the students are encouraged to take initiative and decide with their team how they set up the working on solutions time. 

15:00-16:00  Online  Presentation-Mentoring session֍

Employing people with disabilities in SMEs: overview of disabilities, Austria's legal framework for employing people with disabilities, creating inclusive workplace

Johanna Lausegger, Autark, Austria and Tina Malle, NEBA Betriebsservice, Austria

This session is necessary to attend for the teams solving T.I.P.S. and Hausmasters cases, recommended for teams solving Finvacon and AddSearch Case 2 (Product) cases. The session is open to all participants.

16:00-17:00  Online  Presentation Related to Amplon Case֍

Presenting the details needed to solve the Amplon case.

Kimmo Kallioniemi, CEO, Amplon.

This session is open for all, necessary to attend for teams solving Amplon case, recommended for teams solving AddSearch Case 2 (Product) case

17:00-18:00   Online  Presentation-Mentoring session 

Introduction to AI and ChatGPT 4.0 ֍ - utilizing AI in SME context.

Markku Oivo, Disinguished Advisor at Dimecc Oy, will present a session on introduction to articifial intelligence in general, and ChatGPT.

This session is open for all and recommended for all teams. The session is necessary to attend for teams solving DIMECC and Consulting4Future cases.

           
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7TH: STUDENT WORKING TIME 
On preferred time  Online or in person  Students working time 

The students organize their teams’ working time by themselves, online or in person. A hackathon demands work, and as such the students are encouraged to take initiative and decide with their team how they set up the working on solutions time. 

10:30 - 13:00 

&

14:00-17:00 

Online   Mentoring session: Book a personal 20 min time for your team with a coach! 

Pavla Skorpilova, offers students a mentoring opportunity. During the session, the mentor will guide your team to explore challenges from different perspectives, to make it easier for you to uncover key opportunities to advance your ideas. Through guided questions, the session is designed to empower your team to think critically, reframe problems, align on goals, and channel your efforts into a more focused path forward.  

15:00-16:00  Online  Presentation-Mentoring session 

Murtada Al-Emara, Business Development Manager at TD SYNNEX sharing experiences of people with visual impairments.

Donatas Počešiūnas, architect, wav3x.com, sharing experiences of people with hearing and speaking impairments. Communication with Donatas will be performed in a written form.

This session is open and recommended for all. This session is necessary to attend for the teams solving T.I.P.S., Hausmasters, Finvacon, Amplon, AddSearch Case 2 (Product) cases.

16:00-17:00 Online  Presentation-Mentoring session 

Dr. Audrey Jayton, UX Researcher at DaVita Kidney Care and DEI Advocate will provide a framework on how to analyze environments and product offerings in business from the perspective of accessibility to people with various disabilities.

This session is open and recommended for all. This session is necessary to attend for the teams solving Amplon and AddSearch Case 2 (Product) cases, Recommended for T.I.P.S., Finvacon, and Hausmasters cases.

17:00-18:00

 

Online 

 

Q&A session with the case provider

Students can ask their questions to the company about their case ֍

Finvacon, CEO Kaj Sundén

This session is open for all. This session is necessary to attend for the teams solving Finvacon case.

     
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH: STUDENT WORKING TIME 
All students should take note that this is a weekend day, as such the organizing team will not be available. 
On preferred time  Online or in person  Students working time 

The students organize their teams’ working time by themselves, online or in person. A hackathon demands work, and as such the students are encouraged to take initiative and decide with their team how they set up the working on solutions time. 

           
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9TH: STUDENT WORKING TIME 
All students should take note that this is a weekend day, as such the organizing team will not be available. 
On preferred time  Online or in person  Students working time 

The students organize their teams’ working time by themselves, online or in person. A hackathon demands work, and as such the students are encouraged to take initiative and decide with their team how they set up the working on solutions time. 

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10TH: STUDENT WORKING TIME 
On preferred time  Online or in person  Students working time 

The students organize their teams’ working time by themselves, online or in person. A hackathon demands work, and as such the students are encouraged to take initiative and decide with their team how they set up the working on solutions time. 

15:00-16:00  Online  Presentation-Mentoring session 

Creating inclusion when working in distant or virtual environment

Zixin He, University of Vaasa, Finland

This session is open for all. This session is necessary to attend for the teams solving AddSearch case 1 (working in distant teams).

15:00-16:00  Online  Q&A session with the case provider

Students can ask their questions to the company about their case ֍

Hausmasters, Corinne Jung and CEO Michael Spielhofer

This session is open for all. This session is necessary to attend for the teams solving Hausmasters case.

16:00-17:00  Online  Q&A session with the case provider

Students can ask their questions to the company about their case ֍

DIMECC, Lisbet Frey, Head of HR & Accountability

This session is open for all. This session is necessary to attend for the teams solving DIMECC case.

17:00-18:00  Online  Q&A session with the case provider

Students can ask their questions to the company about their case ֍

Top Training, senior manager joining anonymously

This session is open for all. This session is necessary to attend for the teams solving Top Training case.

     
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11TH: STUDENT WORKING TIME 
On preferred time  Online or in person  Students working time 

The students organize their teams’ working time by themselves, online or in person. A hackathon demands work, and as such the students are encouraged to take initiative and decide with their team how they set up the working on solutions time. 

15:00-16:00  Online  Q&A session with the case provider

Students can ask their questions to the company about their case ֍

Consulting4future, Barbara Sabitzer, CEO

This session is open for all. This session is necessary to attend for the teams solving Consulting4Future case.

16:00-17:00  Online  Q&A session with the case provider

Students can ask their questions to the company about their case ֍

Michael Fiammengo, Director Organization & Business Development, T.I.P.S.

This session is open for all. This session is necessary to attend for the teams solving T.I.P.S. case.

17:00-18:00  Online  Q&A session with the case provider

Students can ask their questions to the company about their case ֍

Merinova, Tauno Kekäle, Project Manager at Merinova Technology Center and Professor at the University of Vaasa, Finland

This session is open for all. This session is necessary to attend for the teams solving Merinova case.

18:00-19:00  Online  Mentoring session: Book a personal 20 min time for your team with a coach! 

Pavla Skorpilova, offers students a mentoring opportunity. During the session, the mentor will guide your team to explore challenges from different perspectives, to make it easier for you to uncover key opportunities to advance your ideas. Through guided questions, the session is designed to empower your team to think critically, reframe problems, align on goals, and channel your efforts into a more focused path forward. 

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12TH: STUDENT WORKING TIME 
On preferred time  Online or in person  Students working time 

The students organize their teams’ working time by themselves, online or in person. A hackathon demands work, and as such the students are encouraged to take initiative and decide with their team how they set up the working on solutions time. 

15:00-16:00  Online  Q&A session with the case provider

Students can ask their questions to the company about their case ֍

Foamit Group, Tiina Partanen, Head of Sustainability and PMO, Finland and Jenny Peräsarka, CEO, SuperCO HR, Finland

This session is open for all. This session is necessary to attend for the teams solving Foamit case.

16:00-17:00  Online  Q&A session with the case provider

Students can ask their questions to the company about their case ֍

Amplon, CEO Kimmo Kalioniemi

This session is open for all. This session is necessary to attend for the teams solving Amplon. case.

17:00-18:00  Online  Q&A session with the case provider

Students can ask their questions to the company about their case ֍

AddSearch, Helena Rebane, CEO and Haò Phan, Software Developer, AddSearch, Finland

This session is open for all. This session is necessary to attend for the teams solving AddSearch cases 1 (working in distance) and 2 (product).

18:00-19:00  Online  Mentoring session: Book a personal 20 min time for your team with a coach! 

Pavla Skorpilova, offers students a mentoring opportunity. During the session, the mentor will guide your team to explore challenges from different perspectives, to make it easier for you to uncover key opportunities to advance your ideas. Through guided questions, the session is designed to empower your team to think critically, reframe problems, align on goals, and channel your efforts into a more focused path forward.  

           
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13TH: STUDENT WORKING TIME 
On preferred time  Online or in person  Students working time 

The students organize their teams’ working time by themselves, online or in person. A hackathon demands work, and as such the students are encouraged to take initiative and decide with their team how they set up the working on solutions time. 

All students should take note that this is the last day of the hackathon working time, all the work that should be returned to evaluate your evaluation must be submitted by the deadline: February 13, 2025 (midnight Finnish time). Instructions how to submit your solutions are included in the case documents that teams received.

 

15:00-16:00  Online Presentation-Mentoring session 

Bridging Differences – Inclusive Collaboration in Remote Teams

Franziska Mehlhorn, HR Business Partner at saas.group, Norway

This session is open and recommended for all participants, especially teams who are solving AddSearch and DIMECC cases

 

16:00-17:00 

Online  Presentation-Mentoring session 

DEI-related challenges in SMEs: Examples

The session brings stories about different diversity dimension and showcases the challenges that the SME had, some of which even led to legal disputes. The session also discusses how these conflicts could have been avoided. Parts of the session will be delivered in German with English interpretation.

Mag. Susanne Prisching, Equal treatment lawyer at the Equal Treatment Advocacy (Gleichbehandlungsanwaltschaft), Head of regional office in Styria and Carinthia, Austria & Mirella Fiammengo, WKSTMK Room 466, Austria

This session is open and recommended for all participants.

17:00-18:00
Online
Presentation-Mentoring session 

Why and how to promote DEI best practices in SMEs via effective communication

Megha Goswami & Kristaps Kovaļonoks, coupleofexpats.com

This session is open and recommended for all participants.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14TH TO MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17TH: EVALUATION PERIOD AND VOTING 
Free time  Online or in person  Evaluation of students’ solutions performed by the International Evaluation Committee and Company representatives 

The evaluation period will not involve students.  

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH: CLOSING EVENT 

Venue for the closing event: Tervahovi, B201 (Wolff), University of Vaasa, Campus, Vaasa & Online

15:30-16:00  In person   

Snacks & coffee served to welcome all Hackathon I participants arriving to the venue

16:00-16:15  Online & In person  Welcoming words 

Adam Smale, Dean, School of Management, University of Vaasa, Finland

Aušrinė Šilenskytė, DEI4SME Project leader & Program manager, University of Vaasa, Finland

Getting to know the interactive app for the audience interactions 

16:15-17:00  Online & In person  Keynote speeches 

Keynote 1: Regulations and directives for the social sustainability and DEI in Europe, Elisa Bevilacqua, Senior sustainability technical manager, EFRAG, Belgium

Keynote 2: Accreditations for sustainability in SME: When and how should SMEs do this? Tiina Partanen, Head of Sustainability and PMO, Foamit Group, Finland

 

17:00-17:15  Online & In person  Thank you & Souvenirs for case company representatives 

Adam Smale, Dean, School of Management, University of Vaasa, Finland

Aušrinė Šilenskytė, DEI4SME Project leader & Program manager, University of Vaasa, Finland

17:15-18:00  Online & In person  Keynote speeches 

Keynote 3: Managing DEI-related challenges in smaller business: psychology perspective. Juha Simola, Psychologist & long-term entrepreneur, Finland 

Keynote 4: Best practices for DEI in SMEs, a global perspective for European SMEs. Chenthuran Jayton, Executive Director of Equity Labs, USA

18:00-18:30
Online & In person  Coffee break

For participants on campus, coffee & cake will be served

18:30-18:45 Online & In person
Thank you & Souvenirs for evaluation committee, mentors, and mentoring-presentation session leaders

Adam Smale, Dean, School of Management, University of Vaasa, Finland

Aušrinė Šilenskytė, DEI4SME Project leader & Program manager, University of Vaasa, Finland

18:45-19:30
Online & In person  Announcing the winners & prizes  

Adam Smale, Dean, School of Management, University of Vaasa, Finland

Aušrinė Šilenskytė, DEI4SME Project leader & Program manager, University of Vaasa, Finland

Kaj Sundén, CEO, Finvacon

Tiina Partanen, Head of Sustainability and PMO, Foamit Group, Finland

Haò Phan, Software Developer, AddSearch, Finland

19:30-19:50
Online & In person   

Thank you for the participating student teams & hackathon I (Finland & Online) organizing team

Aušrinė Šilenskytė, DEI4SME Project leader & Program manager, University of Vaasa, Finland

 

Filling the Feedback Form & Closing word & Final thank you 

At the end of this session, the livestream will end, however, the online participants joining online can network and interact among each other until the official closing of the event at 20:00. 

19:50-20:30
In person   

Closing & Networking 

Networking and fun discussions for the students, company representatives, and DEI experts.