Intelligent Solutions of the Future at USUST: DIIT AI CHALLENGE–2026

On February 27, 2026, the DIIT AI CHALLENGE–2026 intellectual tournament took place at the SEI ‘Dnipro Institute of Infrastructure and Transport’ of the Ukrainian State University of Science and Technologies. The event was dedicated to the practical application of artificial intelligence and the development of digital competencies among school students.
 
The event brought together 18 school students of 10–11 grades from four general secondary education institutions:
  • Dnipro Lyceum No. 36 of the Dnipro City Council
  • Dnipro Lyceum No. 70 of the Dnipro City Council
  • Dnipro Lyceum No. 139 of the Dnipro City Council
  • Slobozhanske Lyceum of the Slobozhanske Council
6 accompanying teachers worked with the teams, including a student intern. Each team was also supported by two students from the SEI ‘DIIT’, who served as mentors and consultants throughout the competition day.
 
Professor Mykhailo Kapitsa, director of the SEI ‘DIIT’ addressed the participants, organizers, and members of the jury with opening remarks. He emphasized that artificial intelligence, data analytics, automation, and intelligent systems have already become an integral part of today’s economy, science, and industry, particularly in the fields of transport, engineering, and infrastructure. According to him, the AI competition is a strategic initiative aimed at shaping a new generation of specialists capable of working at the intersection of engineering and digital technologies, thinking innovatively, and applying knowledge in practice. He also highlighted the importance of supporting such initiatives for the development of technological culture, digital literacy, and research activity among young people. Professor Kapitsa expressed special gratitude to the organizers who helped create an atmosphere of creativity, support, and healthy competition – the university’s Web Management Center, as well as his deputy, Associate Professor Roman Rybalko. Thanks to their joint efforts, an educational environment open to innovation and the technological challenges of the modern world was successfully established.
During the tournament, the participants presented their own visions of how artificial intelligence can be applied in various fields:
  •  ‘Erudite’ Team (Slobozhanske Lyceum) – ‘Fuel of the Future’
  • ‘Conscious Generation’Team (Lyceum No. 70) – ‘Nature and Science’
  • ‘404 Brain Not Found’ Team (Lyceum No. 36) – ‘Comparison of Human and Machine Decision-Making’
  • ‘Diamonds 139’ Team (Lyceum No. 139) – ‘Preservation and Promotion of Regional Cultural Heritage as an Economic Asset’
Throughout the day, the teams worked on developing solutions using AI tools, analyzing results, verifying the accuracy of generated responses, and preparing public presentations of their projects.
The projects were evaluated by a jury consisting of:
  • Volodymyr Malynovskyi, Assistant to the Rector of USUST;
  • Oleksandr Ivanov, Associate Professor of the Department of Computer Information Technologies;
  • Mariia Bezzub, head of the Student Council of the SEI ‘DIIT, USUST.
  • Olha Bessonova, head of the Student Council of the Faculty of Transport Management.
The experts evaluated not only the technical aspects of the projects but also the participants’ ability to work critically with AI tools, justify their decisions, and effectively present their results.
Based on the presentations, the winners were determined in four nominations:
  • AI Strategists (most effective use of artificial intelligence) — Team ‘404 Brain Not Found’ (Lyceum No. 36);
  • AI Innovators (most creative approach) — Team ‘Diamonds 139’ (Lyceum No. 139);
  • AI Critical Minds (critical thinking and verification of AI-generated solutions) — Team ‘Erudite’(Slobozhanske Lyceum);
  • AI Power Stack (integration of multiple AI tools within a single solution) — Team ‘Conscious Generation’ (Lyceum No. 70).
The DIIT AI CHALLENGE once again demonstrated the strong interest of school students in modern digital technologies and their readiness to work with artificial intelligence tools in a responsible and thoughtful manner.
 
Such initiatives contribute to the development of future engineers, IT specialists, and researchers who combine technological competence with critical thinking – a key skill of the digital age.
 
We thank the organizers and all participants for making this remarkable event possible.

More photos from the event are available via the  link.