Finding high-impact and viable solutions that can be implemented fast and efficiently is of critical importance to all organisations. This now requires organisations across industry sectors to come together in rapid, interdisciplinary, and collaborative innovation teams to share knowledge, expertise, and drive solutions that not only add value for the organisation, but also for wider partner and societal ecosystems.

Recently, the Global DigitalHack with the UCL MBA brought together senior leaders from Parsons, the NHS, Department for Education, and Reach Plc. with current UCL MBA students and alumni, young professionals, and UCL Digital Leads to collaborate on new and responsible AI-enabled solutions.

The Global DigitalHack is a virtual and global team challenge that enables diverse teams to address critical planetary and societal challenges at a rapid pace. Dr Rikke Duus and Dr Mike Cooray are the architects of the DigitalHack Methodology.

The overarching aim of the DigitalHack is to facilitate diverse and cross-industry teams to come together in a fully virtual environment to develop new solutions to complex and multi-stakeholder challenges using a structured approach.  

This year, 26 participants from organisations including Reach Plc, Parsons, NHS, Department for Education, ServiceNow, Level Financial Technology, Disch, Sustainable AG, IPC Systems, Foodics, Gladsaxe Council, and Pfizer took part in the Global DigitalHack with the UCL MBA. 

As the Global DigitalHack is unrestricted by geographical boundaries, participants joined from across the world, including Dubai, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Denmark, Riyad, France, Saudi Arabia, Germany, the UK, and Zimbabwe. This enables participants to, not only, collaborate in rapid, interdisciplinary innovation teams, but also draw on a wealth of international experience and perspectives to accelerate new solutions.

Conor Champion, Security Operations Practice Lead, Europe Middle East, & Africa (EMEA) at ServiceNow, and participant of Team 4 shared his experience:

“It’s been really enjoyable - very well-organised, clear, and engaging. Fascinating and relevant subject area, and applicable skills development in problem-solving and team collaboration. Feel fortunate to be part of this, thank you.”

The year’s DigitalHack challenge was focused on artificial intelligence (AI) and the specific opportunities that can be derived from the ethical and responsible use of AI. Teams were encouraged to question and query the role and impact of AI and adopt a human-centred approach to AI, inspired by AI for Good movements and Unesco’s human rights approach to AI.

Each team focus on a specific industry sector and focal organisation (see below), driven by the same question: ‘AI - A Catalyst for Change?’.

Within the broader theme of ‘AI - A Catalyst for Change?’, each team collaborated on multiple Acceleration Tasks to identify a new solution that can potentially add value to the focal organisation, key partners and other stakeholders, whilst also using AI responsibly and aligning with specific United National Sustainable Development Goal(s).

Abi Bolger, senior leader within the Schools Financial Support and Oversight Directorate at the Department for Education, share her experience:

“The DigitalHack 2024 was a great experience, and I really enjoyed taking part. It gave me the chance to work with different people working within different industries from around the world, looking to find innovative AI solutions to a challenge faced within the Education Sector . In my normal role as a public sector worker, this isn’t an opportunity I would usually have, so this was a great opportunity to work with, and learn from others with different skills and experience to my own. It was a great way to work at pace looking at AI in Education and the challenges and opportunities this brings.”

Four interdisciplinary teams participated in the Global DigitalHack 2024, consisting of senior leaders, current UCL MBA students and alumni, young professionals, and UCL Digital Leads. Each team had a wealth of experience and expertise to draw on during the ideation, review, and concept development phases of the DigitalHack. 

Team 1: AI and Healthcare

Focal organisation: NHS

Solution: An AI-driven system (machine learning model) within NHS hospitals to predict risk of deterioration to prioritise patient care effectively.

Team 2: AI and City/Infrastructure Resilience

Focal organisation: Parsons

Solution: An AI-enabled and collaborative traffic solution that utilises climate data to intelligently manage and optimise urban mobility.

Team 3: AI and Media & Publishing

Focal organisation: Reach Plc.

Solution: A local news-focused AI tool filters and verifies content at an unprecedented speed.

Team 4: AI and Education 

Focal organisation: Department for Health

Solution: Leveraging AI to create personalised lesson plans for SEND students in primary schools, whilst monitoring and tracking progress and offering individualised support.        

To help develop impactful pitch presentations, teams utilised the STRIDE UN SDG-led innovation process developed by Dr Mike Cooray, Dr Rikke Duus, Joanne Carmichael (Arup) and Marius Sylvestersen (University of Copenhagen) to present their new collaborative initiatives.

All four teams presented exciting and impactful new AI-enabled solutions for the four focal organisations that all have the potential to be taken forward. Yet, a winning team had to be found. 

Using a democratic and transparent voting system, Team 1 – AI and Healthcare attracted the most votes and was awarded the winning team of the DigitalHack 2024 for their proposed AI-driven system (machine learning model) to help predict risk of deterioration of patients while in hospital to prioritise patient care effectively.

Many congratulations to all members of Team 1 and to all participants of the DigitalHack 2024 for developing such forward-thinking and ambitious solutions.

We now look forward to the Global DigitalHack 2025!