ENU Team Wins Second Place at Project Management Student Hackathon 2026

On 4 November 2026, Project Management Student Hackathon 2026, a student competition focused on project management, was held at the QAIRU venue in Astana. The event was organised by PMI Kazakhstan Chapter, the Kazakhstan chapter of the Project Management Institute, one of the world's leading professional organisations in the field of project management.

As a result of the competition, ENU Synergy, a team bringing together members of the Enactus ENU student community at L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, secured second place among 12 student teams.

Hackathon Format

During the one-day competition, participants were challenged to solve a comprehensive project management case. They had to analyse the initial conditions, develop a project solution, identify the necessary resources, and estimate the project budget and implementation timeline. Each team presented its proposal to an expert jury in a six-minute presentation, followed by a three-minute question-and-answer session.

The projects were evaluated not only on the originality and soundness of the proposed ideas but also on the quality of project management, efficient resource allocation, risk assessment, stakeholder engagement, and the feasibility of achieving the intended results.

The “Second Life” Project Case

Participants were tasked with designing an integrated waste management system for the rapidly developing fictional city of Arman. The project had a budget of KZT 70 billion, an implementation period of 26 months, and was designed to serve a population of one million people. One of the key requirements was to prepare a plan for the first 90 days, enabling the client to make an informed decision on whether to proceed with the project.

During the competition, the organisers introduced an additional scenario: the project's key technical expert leaves the team, while important information about negotiations with suppliers has not been documented. ENU Synergy had to account for this situation, assess the associated risks, and incorporate appropriate mitigation measures into its final project plan.

The Team's Proposed Solution Included Several Key Areas:

establishing an integrated facility with three technological streams for mixed waste, clean recyclable materials, and organic waste;

introducing an end-to-end tracking system to monitor waste throughout the entire process, from collection containers to verified recipients of recycled materials;

developing a detailed 90-day action plan with specific deadlines, responsible parties, and budget allocations within the established financial limit;

conducting a comparative analysis of alternative solutions and validating key assumptions before making major financial commitments;

ensuring transparency in site selection criteria and involving local residents in project discussions by providing information and addressing their questions.

Thus, the team presented not only a technological concept for waste management but also a comprehensive project management approach encompassing financial feasibility, performance monitoring, risk management, and public engagement.

Team Captain's Comment

“We wanted to show that a good project is not the prettiest picture, but a solution that can be verified at every step. Second place is an excellent result, and we already know what we need to improve next time,” said team captain Suleimen Bakhytov.

The ENU Synergy team consisted of captain Suleimen Bakhytov, Diana Beisenbay, Aisha Korgambek, Aruzhan Berik, Mustafa Abilbek, and Makhambet Nusipkul.

ENU Synergy's participation in the hackathon provided an opportunity not only to demonstrate project management and teamwork skills but also to contribute to the discussion of current sustainable development challenges. Developing practical solutions for waste management, the efficient use of resources, and public engagement highlights the importance of environmental responsibility and a sustainable approach to urban development. Initiatives of this kind help equip students with the competencies and values needed to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and strengthen the role of the university community in promoting environmentally responsible and socially meaningful change.