In Turkey, education/career opportunities and access to technological devices/infrastructure in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields are still very limited.
BSH, which undersigns the technologies that shape the future, also carries out sustainable works with a focus on the environment, society and welfare. In this context, BSH took the initiative and cooperated with the Kodluyoruz Association in 2017 to adapt the young people to the new world and create a bright future to strengthen the society. To change the situation of limited access to education and career opportunities in the STEM fields, BSH launched the Makers of Tomorrow (MoT) project in line with the principles of diversity and inclusion.
With this project, primary and secondary school students receive education in fields such as electronics, robotics and 3D with the BSH MakersLab (Programming Laboratory) established in BSH Turkey's Çerkezköy Factory, while accessible coding trainings are provided to young people all over Turkey with the makersoftomorrow.online platform.
The MoT Project was taken one step further and “I Have an Idea” major domestic appliances hackathon was held in the last period of 2022. It has become a platform that encourages curious and innovative young people with original ideas and offers them solutions with technology, workshops, and an entrepreneurial ecosystem.
In order to shape the future of children, who are the architects of the future, BSH Turkey took MoT project one step further and started “I Have an Idea” major domestic appliances hackathon in the last quarter of 2022. In its first year, the competition, which was held in Tekirdağ, a city in Turkey, for the age of 13-18, received more than 100 applications in a short time. Due to the great interest, the quota was increased by 50%.
Students, who received training in white goods technology, mechatronics/automation, presentation techniques and consumer insights at the MakersLab (Coding Laboratory) in the first place, matured their innovative ideas with the support of an ecosystem including mentors and academics.
After the preliminary jury evaluation, the 7 finalists participated in coding, electronics and project planning workshops and produced prototypes of their projects with the materials provided. The teams that presented to the jury were evaluated in terms of the originality, creativity and feasibility of their projects. The finalists came together with the technology ecosystem in two separate workshop terms.
As a result of a long marathon in the “I Have an Idea” hackathon, the team that won the first place with the evaluation of the jury gained the right to do internship in BSH Turkey, while all the finalist teams got the right to participate in the face-to-face coding camp at MakersLab.
MoT and “I Have an Idea” hackathon in numbers:
- With MoT project, 4.741 students have been reached in face-to-face and online workshops up to now. Compared to 2021, there was an 80% increase in the number of students receiving education in 2022. Since September 2020, nearly 200.000 people have visited makersoftomorrow.online and it has reached nearly 25,000 users.
- For the “I Have an Idea” hackathon, more than 100 high school students applied within 1 week and it was first held around Tekirdag city.
- The 7 teams, determined by the first jury elimination, developed their innovative ideas with the support of mentors and academics after training at MakersLab.
- The winner team earned the right to do internship in BSH Turkey, while all finalist teams got the right to participate in the face-to-face coding camp at MakersLab.
In addition to internal communication for the competition, approximately 3.5 million people were reached when the communication activities carried out through traditional channels and social media and the environment of young people through Word of Mouth are included.
Nomination Title: "I Have an Idea” major domestic appliances hackathon
