FAQs

It does what it says on the tin: it’s an event that allows experimentation (‘hacking’) and collaborative learning with other participants, whether staff, students, researchers, alumni, or anyone else with a ucl.ac.uk email address. We hack to learn and learn by hacking. We included the # in the event name to remove the need for a separate hashtag on social media.  

#LearnHack is modelled on the traditional tried and tested weekend hackathon format. Inspiration for #LearnHack’s DIY approach and emphasis on empowering community also stems from sources, such as Mozilla’s MozFest, SXSW in Austin, TX, and the annual Chaos Communication Congress in Germany. These events demonstrate what can be accomplished when strangers come together and tackle challenges collaboratively and creatively. The altruism of volunteering time and/or resources adds to the positive community vibe. 

New connections. New perspectives. Insights through conversations with strangers. Turning strangers into friends. Learning a new skill or two. #LearnHack provides a level playing field where everyone’s knowledge and skills are valued and put to good use. Working intensely on a project with strangers who share your passion builds confidence. The loose format and lack of hierarchy allow for a warm community feel, and this contributes to a sense of belonging and genuine connection between participants. #LearnHack is an ideal learning environment because it offers a safe space for experimentation and learning by doing. 

Because: 

People.
Both staff and students have fixed weekday schedules. It is impossible to concentrate and build a solid project with an hour here and there. Time fragmentation does not work because teams need a chunk of uninterrupted time to learn, to problem-solve, to research and build a prototype or presentation. We want people to have enough time to build cross-institutional connections and lasting friendships! 

Venues.
It is incredibly hard to secure suitable UCL spaces during the week for extended periods of time. This is not a problem during weekends. #LearnHack needs more than just one room: it needs collab spaces, workshop spaces and a chillout space where people can take a mental break from the intense project they’re working on. We also need space for catering. 

Headspace.
Because weekends tend to be more relaxed, people are in a better position to think creatively. Creativity adds fun to the event. Fun makes the whole experience more memorable. This is how #LearnHack creates lasting connections. 

#LearnHack tends to partner with UCL departments who provide the venue and/or money towards prizes or catering. That said, we have had alumni companies give workshops and talks at a couple of events and some of them have sponsored pizza dinners or prizes. #LearnHack is all about UCL humans getting creative to achieve great things together. This core value of the event is reflected in its organic DIY nature: each event is shaped by the people who get involved. Basic structure aside, each #LearnHack is unique. The community is the event. 

Planning the event takes roughly three months, depending on number of volunteers and level of engagement. 

The main event themes are announced 4-6 weeks before the event. At the same time, two calls for participation go out: 

• • Call for project proposals. These will be community suggested project ideas that fit into one of the themes of the event (e.g. for LH6 there were Teaching & Learning, Mental Health & Wellbeing, Community & Connections to choose from) 

  • Call for learning sessions. These are usually workshops, but could also be discussion rounds, demos, etc. Any format is welcome, so long as participants will learn something useful in the process. 

Proposals are published on the website to give potential participants an opportunity to pick things they may want to work on and, possibly, prepare for the event (prior research, for example). 

Tickets are usually released three weeks before the event.  

The event kicks off with an intro / social event on Friday night. This is where those who pitched a project proposal get to present their idea to the room and connect with potential teammates for the weekend. 

Saturday morning is catchup time for those who missed the Friday social and an opportunity for anyone lacking in team members to recruit from the newcomers. Teams may also use this time for icebreaker activities to get to know each other better. 

Project work and the side programme of learning sessions usually starts after lunch (although fully formed teams can start on their projects earlier if they wish). 

Project work and learning sessions continue until 3 or 4pm on Sunday (depending on number of teams). 

In order to be eligible for prizes, teams need to give a short presentation or demo of their work in front of a panel of judges. Projects will be judged against a set list of criteria. The winners will be announced around 6pm on Sunday, with a small afterparty / social for those who still have energy left.