Festival of Computing

Step into the world of computing at Sheffield Hallam University, with our Festival of Computing 2026.  These interactive taster days will give students insights and experience of several different areas of computing careers, including Business, Cyber Security, Games Development and more.

These sessions aren’t about watching from the sidelines; they’re about doing, creating, and discovering where their future in tech could begin. Aimed at Y12/13 or L3 Y1/2 students.

Each day includes two masterclasses related to the topic of the day, for a maximum of 25 students. To book a group or find out more, get in touch at sclo@shu.ac.uk. We run set dates throughout the year as outlined below, but we’re always happy to discuss alternative options if those don’t quite fit your schedule.

17th April – Festival of Computing 2026 – Technology, Business and the Future of Work

• This special event invites you to explore how technology and business work together in the real world.  Throughout the day, you will gain an understanding of how digital technologies such as applications, data analytics, and information systems help organisations make smarter decisions, improve customer experiences, and operate more effectively in competitive environments. Through a combination of interactive simulation, discussion, and the student project showcase, the day will give you a genuine insight into how technology and business are studied at university, and how these skills can lead to a wide range of exciting careers in the digital economy.

14th May – Festival of Computing 2026 – NEXT GENERATION CYBER

• A special event exploring the world of cybersecurity, digital forensics, and computer networking.  You’ll take part in hands-on masterclasses designed to introduce you to the practical side of cyber security. In one session, you’ll explore a digital forensics investigation, learning how specialists recover and analyse digital evidence to understand what has happened during a cyber incident. In another session, you’ll build, attack, and secure a small computer network, discovering how vulnerabilities are exploited and how systems can be defended.

15th May – Festival of Computing 2026 – GameOver26: Discover Games Development

• A special event celebrating the creativity, technology, and innovation behind modern game development.  During the event, you’ll take part in two hands-on game development masterclasses that give you a taste of how games are built using different tools and approaches. In the morning session, you’ll develop a simple spaceship game using C++, exploring how game mechanics, movement, and player interaction are created through programming.  In the afternoon, you’ll move into a modern game engine and build your own version of the classic Flappy Bird game using Unity, discovering how developers combine code, design, and visual elements to create playable experiences.