Programming is also a way to tackle complex problems with perseverance and creative thinking
The Programming Competition for Secondary Schools took place at Reykjavik University and the University of Akureyri on Saturday. The competition was divided into three divisions based on difficulty level: Alpha, Beta, and Delta.
The team ACMaxers, with members from Tækniskólinn, Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík og Landakotsskóli claimed victory in the Alpha division, team XY from
Verzlunarskóli Íslands claimed victory in the Beta divisions, and the team Timaur, from Menntaskólinn á Egilsstöðum, claimed victory in the Delta division.
An additional award was also given for the best team name, which went to the team Imagine fire-breathing reptile, from Fjölbrautaskólinn í Breiðholti.
A total of 45 teams, comprising 102 participants, competed at Reykjavík University. Reykjavík University has hosted the competition for many years, and interest has grown steadily each year, reflecting the increasing enthusiasm for programming among high school students. This year, the cybersecurity company Syndis sponsored the competition, and a representative from the company delivered a talk to participants while they waited for the final results.
The event is among the largest organised within the Department of Computer Science at Reykjavík University and, as in previous years, ran successfully.
It is fantastic to see the interest high school students have in programming, and teams in the competition came from schools all across the country. Programming is not just a technical skill but also a way to train yourself to tackle complex problems with perseverance and creative thinking. Computer science gives us new ways to solve tasks and is useful throughout society. Despite major advances in technology, we will always need people who can understand problems and develop new solutions.
Says Henning Arnór Úlfarsson, President of the Department of Computer Science at Reykjavík University. Arnar Bjarni Arnarson, chair of the Competitive Programming Association of Iceland, agrees.
The competition went very well this year, and we expect to send several students to international competitions in Finland, Italy, and Uzbekistan later this year Participating in competitions, as well as the training we offer at Reykjavík University, prepares students in logical thinking and enables them to solve problems that are completely unfamiliar to them.
Arnar Bjarni said, noting that participation from outside the capital area has increased.
We are very pleased to see growing participation from schools outside the Reykjavík region and that more schools are showing interest in the competition. We would also like to thank Reykjavík University and Syndis for their support.
To further support talented students and other interested participants, the Competitive Programming Association of Iceland will offer free programming and problem-solving training sessions at Reykjavík University. These sessions will take place on Tuesdays from 19:00 to 20:30 and Saturdays from 11:45 to 14:00.
Arnar also highlighted the European Girls’ Olympiad in Informatics, encouraging more girls to take part in the international competition. Last year, Eva Sóllilja Einarsdóttir won a bronze medal, competing alone and finishing first in the Beta division.
The University of Akureyri oversees the competition in northern and eastern Iceland, where it collaborates with Reykjavík University on technology education. Participation in the eastern region reached a record level this year, with five teams competing. In Akureyri, 15 teams totalling 47 participants were registered.
Teams consisted of students from Menntaskólinn á Akureyri, Menntaskólinn á Egilsstöðum, and Verkmenntaskóli Austurlands, as well as three teams from Kvennaskólinn í Reykjavík who travelled north to compete.
We welcomed an unusually large group of students from Menntaskólinn á Akureyri. There is a growing need for people who know how to harness artificial intelligence for the benefit of society and make use of the technological innovations that are rapidly transforming our world.
Said Ólafur Jónsson, project manager for the computer science programme at the University of Akureyri. The competition has been held in Akureyri for more than ten years, since the beginning of the computer science collaboration between Reykjavík University and the University of Akureyri. Through this partnership, students can complete a three-year B.Sc. degree in Computer Science from Reykjavík University while studying in Akureyri.
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