Geomatics Engineering Department launched an intensive program to prepare students for the “Smart Cities and Geospatial AI (GeoAI) Hackathon.”

Beyond the Desk: Leading the Future of Smart Cities

In an ambitious move toward shaping the future of engineering in Egypt, and in alignment with the vision of the EU-funded MLUMSE project, “Modernization of Land and Urban Management Education in Southern Mediterranean”, the Geomatics Engineering Department – Faculty of Engineering at Shoubra – Benha University has launched an intensive program to prepare students for the “Smart Cities and Geospatial AI (GeoAI) Hackathon.”

This initiative, launched under the patronage and support of Prof. Dr. Nasser El-Gizawy, President of Benha University, aims to redefine our students’ identity by building the “Leader-Engineer” persona. Alongside our ongoing efforts to modernize curricula, our students are mastering the tools of the future – including GeoAI, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, and Digital Twins – for smart city management.

The methodology for selecting and preparing these “Hackathon Champions” was based on a rigorous and comprehensive analysis. A distinguished group of students was chosen based on passion, creative thinking, and capacity for innovation, moving beyond mere academic excellence. The current preparation plan follows an integrated approach; it combines acquiring technical expertise through specialized sessions with project experts and fostering a self-learning mindset by encouraging students to explore solutions beyond traditional frameworks.

Furthermore, the plan focuses on cultivating teamwork skills by simulating international work environments within integrated task forces. It also hones leadership abilities, empowering students with essential project management skills, decisive decision-making, and complex problem-solving.

The MLUMSE project management at Benha University emphasizes that the goal is not just winning a hackathon, but presenting an Egyptian engineer with world-class specifications – one who possesses the latest technical tools, embodies a leadership spirit, and can drive digital transformation in the Geomatics and Urban Management sectors.

Join us in supporting our young innovators as they shape the features of our future cities!