​Three groups of students from the UP Faculty of Engineering took the top three places in the 2nd T.L. Saaty International Decision-Making Hackathon. This event, the first of its kind in Peru and Latin America, focused on the theme of "Smart Mobility for a Sustainable Lima" and unfolded over three days of intense competition and collaboration.

​T​he outstanding participation of the UP students not only demonstrated their dedication and ability to solve complex problems but also highlighted their capacity to apply theoretical knowledge in practical and socially relevant situations.

This ​​hackathon, organized by several international institutions, sought to promote the development of innovative solutions for urban mobility challenges in Lima while promoting academic and professional exchange between students from different countries.

The students received institutional congratulations from the contest organizers: https://icefmconference.eu/en/hackathon

Sofia Estela, a member of the Movilution team, shared her experience, stressing the importance of time management in the competition given that the participants had only one day to understand the problem, propose different solutions, and develop the model code. “Winning the Hackathon was a recognition of the time and dedication invested in the project. It also confirms our ability to participate in international competitions and achieve outstanding results,” said Sofia.

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 “I want to point out that all of this was possible thanks to our Operations Research course at the UP, in which we received an introduction to the AHP technique, which was the focus of the competition. I thank the university, since our training gave us the skills and mindset necessary to address the sort of challenges we faced on this occasion,” she concluded.

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For his part, Fernando Villarreal, of the Smart Traffic team, said that the biggest challenge they faced as a group was the translation of their solution proposal into the code format required for the competition.

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“However, we identified this challenge from the beginning. We could say that this motivated us all the more to participate. We knew it would not be easy, but we were determined to take advantage of this experience and learn as much as possible in the process,” explained Fernando.

Finally, Cynthia Paredes, a member of Smart Traffic, said that obtaining third place was a source of pride for her and her teammates, as they see the achievement as vindication of their effort and dedication.

“We managed to overcome new challenges, learn new research techniques such as the analytic hierarchy process, and come up with possible solutions to a problem. This motivates us to continue striving to achieve new goals and get better results, which will contribute to our professional development,” he concluded.

In recognition of their remarkable performance in the hackathon, the winning UP teams were invited to present their innovative solutions at the 22nd International Conference on Economics, Finance and Management (ICEFM2024). This prestigious event was held from May 30 to 31, 2024 in Lima, Peru.

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“Receiving this invitation is a great honor for our students, as the conference is world-renowned and brings together the best academics, researchers, and professionals to discuss advances and challenges in the most important areas of economics, finance, and management,” explained Álvaro Talavera, moderator of the event and professor in the Faculty of Engineering at Universidad del Pacífico.

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 “This involvement provided our students with an exceptional platform to showcase their talent and make connections with people from around the world, thus reinforcing our university’s commitment to academic excellence and positive impact on society,” argued Talavera.

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During th​e event, each team had between five and seven minutes to present their winning projects to an audience of international experts and peers. These presentations not only highlighted the creativity and technical rigor of our students but also offered insight into how their proposals can contribute to more sustainable urban mobility in Lima.

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After the presentations, a discussion panel was held to evaluate the viability, benefits, and possible implementation of the solutions presented. This session was moderated by leading experts, including Miguel Angel Barrientos Benites, coordinator of urban mobility for Arequipa and Huamanga, Promovilidad, Peru; Lesdi Sharlotte Meneses Fairlie, assistant manager of studies and regulation, Municipality of Lima, Peru; and Álvaro Talavera, professor at our university, all of whom lent their valuable insights and expertise.​