Hackathon

Architect the future of lifelong learning

Turn public jobs-skills datasets into real next steps. Build practical tools that help people identify in-demand skills, close skills gaps, and discover upskilling pathways — then demo what you made with the PyCon Singapore community and the world.

Developers, data practitioners, designers, educators, students, career builders and hobbyists are all welcome. If you can turn messy information into a clear choice for a real person, you belong here.

Public Data
Use jobs-skills datasets to build with evidence.
Human-Centred
Make complex data feel simple without flattening decisions.
Actionable
Move from insight to “what should I do today?”.
Demo-Ready
Prototype fast. Tell a clear user story.

The Challenge

Design decision support that feels immediate

Many people want to upgrade their skills, but struggle to translate frameworks, job requirements, and skill lists into practical action. The data exists — the journey doesn't.

Design Brief
Help a lifelong learner answer three questions quickly
  • Where can I go next?
  • What skills matter most?
  • What should I do today?
Success Criteria
  • Understandable, locally relevant, and accessible
  • Actionable recommendations with realistic next steps
  • Strong product thinking: simple flows, clear priorities
  • Transparent data logic: show how the data influences choices

What You’ll Build

From raw data to career action in a few clicks

Think career pathway explorers, role-to-skill maps, skills-gap analysers, reskilling recommendation engines, personalised learning roadmaps, or explainable dashboards for lifelong learning.

Role Fit
Match skills to roles

Help users understand which roles are realistic next moves and why.

Skill Gaps
Find what’s missing

Pinpoint rising capabilities and prioritise the most urgent gaps.

Course Actions
Turn insight into steps

Suggest next learning actions that feel doable for working adults.

Career Clarity
Explain the market

Make labour-market signals understandable without overwhelming charts.

Suggested Build Ideas
  • Career Pathfinder: adjacent roles via transferable skills
  • Skills Gap Mapper: rank urgent skills for a target role
  • Learning Action Planner: a 30-60-90 day plan with milestones
  • Insight Storytelling: explain jobs-skills data for the public
  • (Your creative ideas here)
What Good Products Should Do
  • Explain why a recommendation is shown
  • Separate core requirements from nice-to-have skills
  • Help users prioritise what to learn first
  • Offer realistic next steps for different starting points
  • Avoid overwhelming users with too many skill names at once

How To Join

Join solo or bring a team

You may participate as an individual or as a team (maximum 3 members). Build with Python and the tools you love.

01
Gather your team

Solo is fine. A duo or trio is better. Gender diversity is best.

02
Choose your angle

Discovery, matching, explainability, visualisation, or personalised next-step planning.

03
Prototype fast

Use lightweight data pipelines and strong product thinking. Bonus: apply what you learn from the PyConSG programme (talks and workshops, sponsors and partners, presenters and participants, etc.).

04
Publish and explain

Show the user journey, your core logic, the data you used, and the actions your product generates.

05
Share to l(earn)

Submit via a simple form. We will collate and publish a project showcase/portfolio page.

Judging

Useful guidance, not just clever code

Strong entries combine technical execution with human-centred guidance. Make it clear, make it honest, make it useful.

What We Look For

Process matters as much as product. Show how you work with people.

We are especially interested in AI-human and human-human interaction processes — not only the final outcome. Interaction logs are critical and will be mandatory part of submission. Judging is split evenly: Process (50%) and Product (50%).

Relevance

Does it help a real user make a clearer skills or career decision?

Technical execution

Is the prototype reliable, readable, and demo-friendly?

Data use

Are dataset choices and transformations sensible, transparent, and explainable?

User experience

Does it guide users toward concrete next steps without overwhelming them?

Winners & Prizes

To be announced nearer the event

Watch this space! :)

FAQ

Not job-hunting? You can still join.

Q. I am not actively looking to land a job. Can I work on something else?

A. Absolutely. We have an open category: build anything useful and playful, or “boliao but harmless”. Life is beautiful in its diversity and inclusion — and so is Python. https://www.python.org/psf/diversity

Whether you are open to work, employed, a student, a retiree, or a homemaker, you are welcome to join. The hackathon is about practical learning and positive outcomes that can benefit the wider community beyond the conference.

House Rules
  • Be kind and constructive
  • Make space for newcomers
  • Give credit for help and sources
  • Follow the Code of Conduct