Hackathon “First Track” in Collaboration with Ukrzaliznytsia
On April 15–16, 2025, the strategic hackathon “First Track” was held in Dnipro at the Scientific and Educational Institute “Dnipro Institute of Infrastructure and Transport” of Ukrainian State University of Science and Technologies. The event brought together students, faculty members, experts from JSC “Ukrzaliznytsia,” representatives of government agencies, international organizations, and the business sector.
Over the course of 48 hours, participants worked on real challenges facing the railway industry: developing modern solutions for train traffic management, generating ideas for digital services in the railway sector, and creating new formats for engaging young people with a major infrastructure company. The event combined an idea competition, intensive training, and brainstorming sessions.
Participants received valuable advice and inspiration from mentors — heads of departments at JSC “Ukrzaliznytsia” — and took part in the training session “A Successful Start to a Project” led by Raphael Kizhner. The energy and railway momentum of the event were sustained by the hackathon host — Amiran Abashidze, Head of Children’s Railways at Ukrzaliznytsia.
The jury included top managers from JSC “Ukrzaliznytsia,” representatives of UNICEF, faculty members, and industry experts. Among them were Yurii Rudenko, Anastasiia Voloshyna, Yuliia Talalaieva (UNICEF), Head of the Youth and Sports Department of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional State Administration Yuliia Skliar, and Director of the Prydniprovska Railway Regional Branch Oleksandr Momot.
A key highlight of the hackathon was the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between JSC “Ukrzaliznytsia” and Ukrainian State University of Science and Technologies. The document was signed by Acting Rector of USUST Oleksandr Zaichuk and Member of the Board of JSC “Ukrzaliznytsia” Lidiia Hrytsenko.
The Memorandum opens up new opportunities, including:
- implementation of dual education programs;
- development of joint academic programs;
- internships and traineeships at Ukrzaliznytsia enterprises;
- implementation of joint scientific and technical projects.
The “First Track” hackathon became not only an engineering challenge but also a real platform for partnership between education and industry. While the event has concluded, its results mark only the beginning of a major movement forward — for the entire railway sector and for the next generation of specialists.
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