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Competitions for the next generation of analytics experts

Curiosity can unlock a career in analytics and data science for students. The most important thing about data is what you do with it. This is your chance to flex your SAS® skills.

Two unique opportunities for collaboration, curiosity and innovation.

But which global competition is right for you: SAS Curiosity Cup or SAS Hackathon?

Both competitions give students the chance to:

Get hands-on data science experience.

Learn new problem-solving approaches using the latest analytics technology.

Complete a data science project that will help kickstart your career.

Gain recognition and earn digital badges for your résumé.

To help decide which competition is right for you,
check out our at-a-glance comparison

 

SAS CURIOSITY CUP

SAS HACKATHON

What's in it for you
  • Explore a topic you’re curious about while expanding your analytics portfolio.
  • Compete against students from all over the globe.
  • Gain important face time with your faculty advisor.
  • Get access to free courses, tutorials and more.
  • Participate in free SAS workshops.
  • Develop a solution to a business or humanitarian issue.
  • Collaborate with peers from different regions with diverse analytics backgrounds.
  • Take advantage of learning resources and unparalleled guidance from mentors.
  • Participate in free SAS workshops.
More reasons to participate
  • Hone your analytics skills with hands-on experience that you can add to your résumé.
  • Get recognized by industry professionals when you present your findings.
  • There may be an opportunity to develop your application and commercialize your ideas with SAS. Teams own their own IP (intellectual property).
  • Connect with local and global innovators, partners and industry leaders.
Skill level required
  • Open to all students regardless of analytics and data science expertise.
  • Experience with SAS®9 or SAS® Viya® is a plus.
  • Appropriate for students with advanced analytics or data science skills.
  • Experience with SAS Viya is strongly recommended.
Team structure
  • Teams of 2-4 students and a faculty mentor.
  • Teams of 2-12 individuals.
  • Teams can be made up of people within your institution, your institution and a technology partner, or a data scientist looking to join a group.  
What you’ll submit
  • Share your analysis and findings in a paper of 2-5 pages. Finalists will submit a video presentation describing their data analysis for judging.  
  • Present your solution – create two videos, a three-minute pitch and an eight-minute presentation – for judging.
Mentors
  • A faculty sponsor from your academic institution.
  • SAS mentors include industry and technology experts.
Software
  • Use SAS®9 or SAS Viya to conduct your analysis.  
  • SAS Viya in the cloud, open source and AI and analytics.
Timeline
  • Registration opens Dec. 1, 2023.
  • Registration closes Jan. 31, 2024.
  • Paper submission due Feb. 21, 2024.
  • Round two video submissions due March 27, 2024.
  • Winners announced at SAS Innovate April 16-19, 2024.
  • Mid-September to mid-October 2024.

Next steps: Decide which competition is right for you

  • Dive into the details of each competition. Visit the websites to learn more.
  • Check out innovation stories and watch winning submissions from last year.
  • Join the interest list to be notified when registrations open.
SAS Curiosity Cup
A global SAS student competition
SAS Hackathon
Where your curiosity leads to innovation