Promoting Sustainable and Ethical Sports: A Cross-Disciplinary Hackathon at EMLV

In the lead-up to the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, over 1,300 students from EMLV, ESILV, and IIM took part in a cross-disciplinary educational hackathon focused on developing sustainable, inclusive, and ethical approaches to sport.

This learning experience challenged students to propose innovative solutions aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to reshape the future of sports.

A Hackathon Rooted in Interdisciplinarity

In line with the pedagogical model at De Vinci Higher Education, the hackathon brought together students from three schools and various academic backgrounds.

The 200 interdisciplinary teams were formed to encourage collaboration between business, engineering, and digital profiles.

The first three days were dedicated to ideation and solution-building. Students worked intensively to develop projects and prepare their final presentations.

Week-Long Program Anchored in Sustainability

To initiate the week, students participated in a team-building session to establish group dynamics, as they were working with new peers. An essential phase of thematic familiarization followed this before choosing a focus area and conducting field analysis.

Students selected their topics based on two guiding frameworks: the five significant challenges facing the sports sector and the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The five challenges included:

• Athletes
• Infrastructure and venues
• Sports practices and equipment
• Governance and decision-making bodies
• Major sporting events

The SDGs provided a global context, encouraging students to approach sport as a driver of inclusive progress and environmental responsibility.

High-Level Insights from Professional Athletes

The hackathon also benefited from the involvement of 11 professional athletes from diverse disciplines. Through short video messages, these athletes shared their insights on the key issues surrounding sustainable and responsible sports development.

This input offered students a valuable perspective from those directly impacted by these challenges and reinforced the real-world relevance of the initiative.

Reinforcing Hybrid and Project-Based Learning

This hackathon is one of several hybrid and cross-functional pedagogical events regularly hosted at the De Vinci Higher Education. It reflects the institution’s commitment to Learning by Doing, interdisciplinary education, and social responsibility.

Over the week, students combined analytical thinking, creativity, and teamwork to design solutions that contribute to a vision of sport as a tool for sustainable and ethical transformation.

Learn more about EMLV’s hybrid, interdisciplinary, and learning-by-doing approach to education.