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WiDS Datathon College and University Course Integration

In 2023, WiDS expanded the datathon program to create the University edition, making the resources available to be used in classrooms by higher education institutions around the world. Participating in a WiDS Datathon is a fantastic opportunity for students to gain experience and see an application to a real and critical challenge. WiDS Datathon challenges are based on well-curated, real-world datasets that are not readily available in the public domain; and participant teams are required to have at least 50% women. 

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The Challenges

Colleges and universities can interact and work with the WiDS Datathon challenges in multiple ways:

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WiDS Datathon Global Challenge

January – April 2025

This challenges can be offered as a 1-unit☥ course or project in undergraduate or graduate courses that provide a first entry to data science. 

Audience: First entry to data science, data analytics, or machine learning
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WiDS Datathon++ University Edition

September 2024 – June 2025

This challenge, available only to colleges and universities, can be offered as a project in more advanced undergraduate or graduate courses. It can also serve as a capstone course, the base of an honors thesis, independent research, directed research, or a standalone 3-unit☥ course. The challenge will be designed not just to support the competition, but also to prompt discussions to generate additional insights and to understand the real-world implications of the results.

Audience: Advanced students
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Why integrate the datathon into your course curricula?

  • Provide a unique learning experience: integrate a hands-on project with unique data that is relatively unexplored, and in a fun, competition setting
  • Access to data: well-curated and designed real–world data not available (therefore not accessible) to the public
  • Enhance curriculum: incorporate different and collaborative ways to learn, with a potential to be used as a capstone project
  • Broad applicability: options for both beginner and advanced level data science students
  • Access to global community: expose students to diverse perspectives

WiDS Datathon Instructor Resources

We are excited to be a resource to help you and your students succeed! The WiDS Datathon team provides a variety of resources for educational instructors, including:​

Implementation Guide

Easy step-by-step instructions and guidance about how to bring the WiDS Datathon to your course.

Tutorials and Class Resources

We will provide a kit of technical tutorials and skill-building materials.

Monthly Meetups & Community

Discuss best practices, bring your questions and interact with other course instructors and mentors!

Apply to bring the WiDS Datathon to your college or university!