Seton Hall and Christ University of India Launch Global Hackathon Collaboration Rooted in Innovation and Mission

As part of growing international engagement, Seton Hall expanded its annual 24-hour Hackathon event into a global experience through a unique collaboration with Christ University in India, reflecting a shared commitment to Catholic higher education and academic innovation. The return of the Hackathon took place from March 21–22, 2026, with 50 students participating in person on Seton Hall’s South Orange campus, while a parallel event was hosted simultaneously at Christ University in Pune, India.

In line with the transnational initiative, this coordinated effort marked a significant step in integrating international partnership into experiential learning. Students across both campuses engaged in shared learning opportunities through online platforms, collaborated around common challenge themes, and benefited from a joint pool of faculty, alumni and industry judges. While each campus selected its own winning teams, the Hackathon was designed to foster a sense of global collaboration and cross-cultural exchange across both participating sites. 

The partnership was built on a formal agreement signed in July 2025 during the International Federation of Catholic Universities (IFCU) Conference in Guadalajara, Mexico, attended by Seton Hall Provost Erik Lillquist and Dean Mary Kate Naatus. The agreement reflected a broader strategic effort to deepen engagement among Catholic institutions worldwide through innovative academic programming.

Momentum continued in November 2025, when Father Lijo Thomas of Christ University visited Seton Hall to explore opportunities for collaboration that connect students, faculty and staff in ways aligned with both institutions’ Catholic missions. The Hackathon emerged as a natural extension of these conversations, bridging disciplines, geographies and perspectives through technology-driven problem solving.

By linking two campuses across continents in a shared innovation experience, Seton Hall and Christ University are advancing a model of global, mission-driven education that prepares students to collaborate across cultures while tackling challenges.

Reflecting on the joint event, Christ University Assistant Professor of Marketing and MBA Coordinator Tanya Sharma said, “The Global Innovation Hackathon is more than a competition. It is a meaningful platform that brings together two Catholic institutions committed to values-driven education, innovation and global engagement.” She added, “This collaboration between Seton Hall University and CHRIST (Deemed to be University) reflects a shared vision of nurturing responsible leaders. For our MBA students, this experience is truly enriching, offering exposure to cross-cultural teamwork, innovation and real-world problem-solving.”

At the 2026 Hackathon, Seton Hall participants gathered in person on the South Orange campus in Jubilee Hall, with Christ University participants joining virtually for a newly introduced workshop series added to this year’s Hackathon. The workshops provided hands-on resources to help participants to quickly develop and test models to address contemporary issues.

These efforts were made possible by Victor Gomez, Esports Manager at Seton Hall University, who took the lead role in organizing this year’s event. The Hackathon was also supported by a group of interdisciplinary colleagues, including Mark Schild, associate dean of the Stillman School of Business; Mary Kate Naatus, dean of Continuing Education and Professional Studies; Manfred Minimair, professor and director of Computer Science, Cybersecurity and Data Science and Engineering; and Sandro Tejada, director of Development, Parents and Families.

Christ University had two competing teams: FINFINITY, which developed a financial literacy app to help individuals manage personal finances through simulations of different decisions and model consequences; and Campus IQ, which presented a system to maximize the value of a campus infrastructure for room usage and allocation for colleges, hospitals and corporations. Each team of five delivered a three-to-five-minute presentation summarizing their solution, process and impact, supported by a working prototype or functional mock-up.

Keynote speaker, Michael Spaeth, alumnus of Seton Hall and vice president of the United States Artificial Intelligence Institute USAII, commented that it was one of the best Hackathons he’s ever attended due to “the energy, organization and overall experience, especially the coordination between Christ University and Seton Hall.”

Together with the presence of international students on campus, the partnership with Christ University in India reflects the increasingly global nature of the Seton Hall community.

“The 24-Hour Hackathon was a really fun experience once again, as it was my team's second time attending it. It definitely felt like they took the notes that people gave last time. They made sure to take proper care of the students with providing enough resources to sustain everyone, as well as resources to help us come up with and execute our ideas. Overall, I loved it! Will definitely try our best again next semester,” said Jedidiah Saezhong, an international student majoring in Physics. 

By connecting students across countries for a shared innovation challenge, the Hackathon demonstrates how collaboration can extend beyond campus and across borders. As the University continues to grow its network of global partnerships, initiatives like this create new opportunities for students to learn from one another, exchange ideas and prepare for careers in a world where teamwork and innovation are truly international.

Categories: Alumni, Business, Education, Nation and World, Science and Technology