Build for Impact 2025: Students Creating the Future of UQ Union
Empowering students, connecting communities.
That’s the driving force behind Build for Impact 2025, a brand-new hackathon set to take place from 23–25 May 2025.
Hosted in collaboration with UQ Ventures, UQ Union, UQIES (UQ Innovation & Entrepreneurship Society), UQCS (UQ Computer Science), UQEUS (UQ Engineering Undergraduate Society) and UQEBESS (UQ Electrically Based Engineering Student Society) this two-day event invites UQ students to reimagine how technology can help bring the campus community closer together. This isn’t just a competition—it’s a call to build something real.
The Challenge?
To design and prototype a webapp or mobile app that could become the future digital hub for UQ Union. With student life and support services currently scattered across emails, social media, and various websites, UQ Union wants to streamline and centralise it all into a "one-stop shop" app—by students, for students.
Why This Challenge?
The UQ Union sees tremendous potential in student-led innovation and is committed to supporting platforms that genuinely serve the student body. This hackathon is a unique opportunity to shape how students discover events, connect with societies, access services, and engage in campus culture.
“Students know what students can benefit from, and these types of opportunities are what keeps students engaged during their university studies,” says Jaafar Jabur, President of UQ Union. “So let’s build something that future students can benefit from!”
What to Expect
Participants will be tasked with designing a user-friendly and inclusive app concept that meets the needs of UQ students.
To spark creativity without limiting innovation, teams will be provided with a list of desired features—such as campus event visibility, club and society info, service directories—and some guardrails (like no messaging features) to keep the focus clear.
- Prize Pool: $10,000
- Who Can Join: Open to all UQ students—no matter your degree or background.
Why Get Involved?
Beyond the chance to win a share of the $10K prize pool, this is your opportunity to leave a lasting legacy on the student experience at UQ. You don’t need to know how to code to make an impact—great ideas are built by diverse teams, not just developers.
We need creatives who can design intuitive user experiences. We need communicators who can tell the story behind the solution. We need critical thinkers who understand what students actually want and how to deliver it. Whether you're a strategist, marketer, designer, researcher, community builder, or just someone who cares about making uni life better—there’s a place for you.
This is your moment to team up, get creative, and build something meaningful—by students, for students.
Dates: 23–25 May 2025
Location: Advanced Engineering Building