Another IPN hackathon is starting. Sign up for HISTHACK 2.0

The IPN New Technology Division is pleased to announce the second edition of the HISTHACK competition. It is a unique opportunity for young enthusiasts of history and new technologies to work together on modern educational tools that bring Polish history closer to people. Join us and code the history of the future!

What is HISTHACK?

HISTHACK is a programming marathon in a competition format. It combines new technologies with historical education, resulting in a one-of-a-kind event. We invite you to take part in the hackathon organized by the Institute of National Remembrance.

The competition is divided into two stages. The first one takes place online. It involves forming a team and submitting a competition entry electronically. The second stage, the hackathon itself, will be held in person at the Central Przystanek Historia, 107 Marszałkowska Street, Warsaw.

Sixteen teams—one from each voivodeship—will be invited to the second stage. Winners will be awarded funds of 6,000 PLN gross for accommodation in Warsaw so they can fully focus on the on-site hackathon.

Teams from all over Poland will have a unique chance to face off in an exciting competition. The total prize pool for both stages amounts to nearly 130,000 PLN! Awards will go not only to students and their mentors but also to the schools they represent. We invite you to take part in this contest.

How to participate in the contest and join the first, online stage of the IPN hackathon?

To take part, you need to form a team consisting of five high school students (excluding final-year students) with IT and programming skills from the same school, plus one mentor representing the same institution. Together, prepare the competition task and submit it using the application form available on the website of IPN New Technology Division.

Through the form, you will register all team members, provide team details, and upload your entry.

The results of the first stage will be announced no later than October 20, 2025, on the New Technology Division website.

Who can take part in the competition?

The first stage of the IPN hackathon is open to high school students, excluding those in their final (matura) year. All schools in Poland are invited.

What is the competition task—the first stage?

The first stage takes place online. The task is to create a history lesson plan using at least one educational path (its name must be indicated in the work).

These can be found in the research reports “Immersive Historical Education – Towards New Educational Paths” and “Immersive Historical Education – Where We Are and What Lies Ahead.” These publications are an excellent source of inspiration and knowledge about modern historical education. The better you use the information from the reports, the more effective your lesson plan will be.

The entry must be written, refer to a specific period of Polish history between 1917 and 1989, and be between 2 and 25 pages in length. The completed task must be submitted as a non-editable PDF file via the application form on New Technology Division website. The deadline is October 8, 2025.

What does the second stage look like?

From all submitted entries, the jury will select 16 of the best—one from each voivodeship. These teams will be invited to the second stage, held in person at the Central Przystanek Historia, 107 Marszałkowska Street, Warsaw.

The competition task for the teams will be announced on the first day of this stage. It will last three days—November 4–6. Teams will have a total of 16 hours to work on their solution: eight hours on the first day and eight on the second. On the third day, each team will present their results before the jury.

Join the HISTHACK competition

All participants will get the chance to explore the New Technologies Zone of the Central Przystanek Historia, engage in healthy competition with other teams, and enjoy an unforgettable experience where not only skills and knowledge count, but also teamwork, communication, and fun. Prizes worth nearly 130,000 PLN await!

Submit your entry here

What was HISTHACK like? See the first edition and get inspired

The first edition of HISTHACK was another step by the Institute of National Remembrance toward meeting the needs of new generations in historical education.

In the first stage, each team’s task was to develop the concept of a historical-educational computer game related to Polish history between 1917 and 1990. A source of inspiration was IPN’s gaming project “Cyphers Game”, which in 2022 was included in the curriculum as recommended educational content.

In the second stage, teams faced a new and unique challenge—developing a project for historical education using new technologies, with a total of 16 hours to complete it. During the event, two additional competitions were held: a “Virtual Knowledge Quiz” and the “History Card Seekers” contest.

1st place: The team from Tadeusz Kościuszko Technical School Complex in Leżajsk
2nd place: Józef Hauke-Bosak IT School Complex in Kielce
3rd place: Technical School No. 7 in the Stanisław Wysocki School Complex in Warsaw

Awards were presented by the President of the Institute of National Remembrance, Dr. Karol Nawrocki, and the Deputy Director of the New Technology Division, Adrianna Paradowska.

Once again, we congratulate the winners and thank all 16 teams for participating in this unforgettable event.

Sign up for HISTHACK 2.0