UVic Tech Challenge 2026: Shaping the Future

Description

The future is in the room. The fifth UVic Tech Challenge brings Victoria's tech leaders face to face with UVic's next generation of engineers, then puts eight student teams' work in front of industry judges.

Hosted by the UVic Entrepreneurship Club (UVEC) with Dr. Navneet Kaur Popli and SENG 321 (Software Engineering, University of Victoria). Community partner: Victoria Data Society.

What you'll experience:

• Keynotes from Sanil Mhatre (World Wide Technology) and Shane Bostock (Zetron)
• An industry panel on what engineers need to learn now that AI writes code, with Peter Scott (Centre for AI in Canadian Learning), Jeremy Moseley (GitHub), Monica T. Chang (Start with Clarity Consulting) and Eric McLachlan (Revela), followed by audience Q&A
• Live UI prototype demos and posters from eight SENG 321 teams, built over three months with industry mentors on real client problems
• Hiring in 2030: hiring managers on what they will look for and what students should focus on now
• Live judging and $1,000 in prizes
• Networking with local tech leaders, faculty, students and families

Program:

• 4:00 PM Registration (ECS Lobby)
• 4:30 PM Welcome and keynotes (ECS 125)
• 5:00 PM Industry panel and Q&A (ECS 125)
• 5:45 PM Pizza and networking (ECS Lobby)
• 6:00 PM Student posters and UI prototype demos (ECS Lobby)
• 7:00 PM Hiring in 2030, while judges deliberate (ECS 125)
• 7:30 PM Prizes and closing (ECS 125)

Register here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=d9NhnJSYfEKxOx1qUWYrTv_F-OxVFaRKlCtGOg525otUMktCU1cyWE40MFlMTTFLUTM2WUE3NTdYTS4u&origin=QRCode