Miami Dade College (MDC) recently partnered with Santander to host a student hackathon designed to provide hands-on experience within its digital banking platform, Openbank. The event brought together 45 students from the College’s School of Engineering, Technology and Design, who collaborated in teams to work directly within Openbank to develop new digital banking engagement concepts.
Throughout the hackathon, students applied their skills in a real-world digital banking environment, collaborating to design and prototype new ideas that enhance the customer experience. After completing their solutions, teams presented their findings to a panel of judges comprised of Santander leaders, including Cenk Bulbul, Chief Marketing Officer for Santander Bank and Head of Marketing for Openbank, Stacey Nash, Head of Operations for Santander US and Openbank, and Ronaldo Rondinelli, Head of Santander Universities in the U.S. They also participated in a panel discussion and Q&A about careers in the industry and emerging trends in digital banking. Winning teams received prizes such as F1 tickets and electronics, along with mentoring opportunities.
This initiative reflects a shared commitment between Santander and MDC to bridge classroom learning with real-world application, equipping students with the skills and exposure needed to succeed. Through its broader efforts, including Santander Open Academy, Santander supports lifelong learning by providing access to courses, scholarships, and training that enable people to improve their employability by acquiring and updating the professional skills and competencies most in demand in the labor market. Santander has also committed $600,000 to MDC to support educational access and entrepreneurship initiatives.
“This hackathon is a powerful example of how we’re connecting education with real-world innovation. By giving students the opportunity to engage with real digital banking challenges, we’re helping build the skills and confidence needed for the future of our industry. Through initiatives like Santander Open Academy, we’re expanding access to these learning opportunities, empowering the next generation and supporting current professionals as they grow and advance their careers.”
Cenk Bulbul
Chief Marketing Officer for Santander Bank and Head of Marketing for Openbank
The hackathon is one of many ways Santander continues to support MDC through investments in scholarships and career readiness programs. It also reflects MDC’s ongoing focus on experiential learning, as this marked the second hackathon hosted by the College in April, with the first focused on cybersecurity. These initiatives underscore MDC’s broader commitment to providing practical learning opportunities.
“Our hackathons are an amazing avenue to provide students with direct exposure to the tools and technologies shaping today’s financial industry,” said Manuel Perez, dean of MDC’s School of Engineering, Technology and Design. “By working hands-on with a global institution like Santander, our students gain practical experience and build skill sets employers are actively seeking.”
For more information about programs within Miami Dade College’s School of Engineering, Technology and Design, visit: www.mdc.edu/entec/
To learn more about Santander and its impact on education through university partnerships, visit www.santander.com/universities.