Students from across Salford Business School recently came together for a collaborative hackathon delivered in partnership with Microsoft, giving them the opportunity to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) can help businesses tackle sustainability challenges.
The event brought together 113 students from across programmes including Business, Law and Finance to learn from industry experts and apply their ideas to real-world business problems.
The day began with a series of talks from Microsoft specialists, who shared insights into the growing role of AI in organisations and the importance of responsible innovation. In the afternoon, students worked in teams to apply what they had learned to two business challenges focused on AI and sustainability.
Working collaboratively, students developed ideas and potential solutions before presenting them to Microsoft representatives and their peers at the end of the session. The experience gave participants the chance to develop valuable skills in teamwork, problem-solving and pitching ideas, while gaining insight into how emerging technologies are shaping the future workplace.
The hackathon was proposed and supported by Level 6 Law student Aimen Younis, following conversations at a recent Industry Advisory Board networking session designed to strengthen engagement between students and industry leaders.
Aimen explained that the event was designed to help students understand how emerging technologies are influencing professional practice across many sectors: “My inspiration for proposing and helping to organise this hackathon arose from a longstanding fascination with the interplay between technology, human behaviour and public service, deepened during my cultural immersion in Hanoi where I observed how rapidly developing societies integrate technological advancement into daily life.
“A central pillar of the hackathon is sustainability, inspired by my travels to Vietnam, during which I created the Greenhouse Initiative, an AI‑driven concept designed to address recycling and litter challenges through intelligent smart bins that sort waste, educate users and reward responsible behaviour with digital tokens. Witnessing environmental pressures first‑hand underscored the need for scalable, technology‑enabled solutions and demonstrated how artificial intelligence can meaningfully contribute to sustainability, behavioural change and public policy.
“My vision was also to help students recognise that across sectors such as Law, Accounting and Finance, and Marketing, AI is no longer an abstract concept but an emerging force reshaping professional practice, expectations, and the future of work.”
For many students, the hackathon offered an opportunity to step beyond traditional classroom learning and experience how theoretical concepts can be applied to practical business scenarios. Bringing together students from different programmes also encouraged interdisciplinary collaboration and new perspectives when approaching complex challenges.
Students said they were particularly drawn to the event by the opportunity to engage with a global technology organisation like Microsoft and gain hands-on experience with AI tools. Many participants highlighted the value of learning about emerging industry trends, applying their skills to practical challenges and collaborating with peers from different academic backgrounds.
Dan Martin, Client Partner at Microsoft AI, said: “Our collaboration with the University of Salford reflects Microsoft’s ongoing commitment to AI skilling and social mobility. By bringing together volunteers from Azure, Fabric, Foundry and Advertising, we were able to provide students with a comprehensive and practical overview of AI in action, supported by recent case studies from our work with the Government. The students engaged with the task with real creativity and professionalism, and our team valued the opportunity to contribute. We look forward to continuing this partnership at future events.”
Professor Vish Maheshwari, Associate Dean Academic – Student Experience at Salford Business School, said the event demonstrated the value of giving students opportunities to work directly with industry: “It was fantastic to see the momentum from our Industry Advisory Board meeting translate into a real student-led initiative.
“Opportunities like this show how student ideas are always welcomed and encouraged at Salford Business School. Working with an international partner such as Microsoft allows our students to engage with industry-relevant challenges, build confidence and develop the practical skills they need for the rapidly evolving world of work.”
Early feedback from students has been overwhelmingly positive, with many saying the hackathon helped them gain practical insight into how AI tools and technologies are used in professional settings.
The hackathon reflects the School’s ongoing commitment to strengthening connections between students and industry partners, helping learners develop practical skills, explore emerging technologies and gain valuable experience that will support their future careers.