The results of the hackathon on social analytics "Digital analytical solutions for social challenges" were summed up at Altai State University.
This was the first experience of holding such events among students of sociological directions, organized by the Department of Social and Youth Policy in collaboration with academic and industrial partners - the University Consortium of Big Data Researchers (Tomsk), the International Laboratory of Applied Network Analysis of the National Research University Higher School of Economics, VTsIOM and the Altai Krai Regional Management Center.
One of the key visionaries behind this hackathon was Vyacheslav Goiko, Director of the Center for Applied Big Data Analysis at National Research Tomsk State University and General Director of the Association "University Consortium of Big Data Researchers."
“Today, the team of the University Consortium of Big Data Researchers includes many participants, among them sociologists who are now working with artificial intelligence and data analytics. Experience shows that sociologists develop into excellent analysts who are highly sought after in the labor market. For example, last year about 174,000 vacancies for data analysts were advertised. In this context, together with Altai State University, we are launching a new master’s degree program focused on digital data analysis, which will provide an excellent opportunity for many young people to successfully enter the labor market,” Vyacheslav Goiko explained as he opened the hackathon.
The hackathon, designed to foster interest in modern social research methods among humanities students, was attended by students from the Institute of Humanities of ASU specializing in sociology, social work, conflictology, youth work organization, and regional studies.
Daria Maltseva, Head of the International Laboratory of Applied Network Analysis at the National Research University Higher School of Economics (Moscow), Candidate of Sociological Sciences, participated in the hackathon online. She announced that starting from the next academic year, the Higher School of Economics, in collaboration with Altai State University, will launch a project incorporating a module on network analysis developed by the Applied Network Analysis Laboratory.
“Our laboratory, established in 2014, conducts research in network sciences, focusing on networks as sets of connections between elements within the systems we analyze. Our work draws on social theory on the one hand, and a specialized mathematical framework on the other hand. As Harry Robinson, an expert in change management, has noted, studying social networks is not merely a methodological supplement but represents a fundamentally different way of thinking. Our laboratory embraces this different approach, developing network methodologies, testing and adapting methods for analyzing network data, which we apply in empirical research,” explained Daria Maltseva.
According to Professor Larisa Nekhvyadovich, Acting Director of the Institute of Humanities of ASU, Doctor of Arts Criticism, each of the hackathon participants, and, indeed, all the students of the institute and the university are eligible to enroll in this master's program, which features instructors from both the HSE and TSU.
"The implementation of this master's program is a unique experience of collaborative networking between universities across different regions of our country. Moreover, for students of Altai State University and the Institute of Humanities, it offers an excellent opportunity to study a top specialty without leaving their region. You have a remarkable chance to achieve success at Altai State University, working alongside a team of professionals from the Higher School of Economics and the University Consortium of Big Data Researchers. The hackathon is just the starting point, where you engage in solving real-world social challenges. “There are many exciting software developments ahead of you, which, I hope, will inspire you to master the new master program of our institute,” added Larisa Nekhvyadovich.
During the hackathon, its participants not only attend expert lectures, but also engage in a scientific experiment, investigating visual perception of real vs AI-generated faces through eye-tracking technology.
The primary team task involved solving research cases prepared by VTsIOM experts specifically for this event. Students analyzed five pressing social issues: accessibility of education, urban environment improvement, public transport organization, historical heritage preservation, and cultural tourism popularization, as well as ecology. For each issue, based on social media posts and comments, they identified the most important citizen concerns, analyzed message tone, created visualizations, and selected indicators for sociological monitoring.
All hackathon participants performed excellently. The best teams received certificates that grant additional admission points for the network master's program Altai State University, the National Research University Higher School of Economics, and the University Big Data Consortium "Digital Methods of Visualization and Analysis of Data in Social Research", made accessible through the Priority 2030 Program.
"This was a relatively new experience in organizing scientific and educational events. It proved to be successful, allowing us to strengthen our connections with colleagues from partner universities and to test new educational technologies. For me, the most important thing was seeing the students’ enthusiasm—their eyes lit up, and they really enjoyed this format. We will definitely continue to hold such events in the future. The students especially appreciated the eye-tracking experiment conducted by Olga Surtaeva, Head of the educational and project laboratory "Digital Innovation." Those who enroll in the program will have the opportunity to engage in neurocognitive research and acquire unique skills. We are grateful to the Directorate of the Institute of Humanities and to Evgeniya Zhdanova, First Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs at Altai State University, for their support and assistance. She inspired us to organize the event and addressed the hackathon participants, emphasizing the importance of mastering new information technologies for students across all fields, including the humanities, which will help them become more successful and competitive in the job market,” concluded the hackathon moderator, Candidate of Sociological Sciences, Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Social and Youth Policy at the Institute of Humanities of Altai State University, and Head of the Network Interdisciplinary Master's Program, Daria Omelchenko.