Hackathon operations · Duke Kunshan University

HackDKU 2026.

Helping a weeklong, multi-track hackathon feel coherent for the people building, learning, and presenting inside it.

Role: Core organizerApril 11–18, 2026CS Club
HackDKU team and participants together at the event

Organizers and participants at HackDKU 2026.

An event is a system people move through.

HackDKU 2026 brought participants together around four tracks: finance, health, education, and Luxshare AI smart manufacturing. Over a week of sessions, development, and final presentations, the organizer team needed to make many parts work together: communication, materials, milestones, space, and participant support.

25+teams
4challenge tracks
8 daysApril 11–18

My contribution.

As a core organizer, I supported planning and event operations across the participant journey—from opening information and on-site details to awards and wrap-up. I also wrote the English event recap and opening-session summary, turning a busy sequence of activities into a clear record others could understand afterward.

01 / BEFORE

Plan the flow

Help define milestones, session needs, materials, and practical handoffs for a multi-day event.

02 / DURING

Keep it moving

Support the live participant experience and adapt when operational details change.

03 / FINISH

Recognize the work

Help prepare the final presentation and awards experience.

04 / AFTER

Tell the story

Write a coherent English recap that preserves the event’s purpose and outcomes.

What this taught me.

Good event operations are often invisible. When schedules, information, and support are clear, participants can spend their energy on ideas. HackDKU sharpened my ability to coordinate across a long timeline while still noticing the small moments that shape an individual’s experience.

The event budget was an estimate during planning; this case does not present it as final spending.

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