The air was filled with excitement and anticipation at the University of Warsaw as its Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Mathematics welcomed the brightest young programmers from across Poland for the finals of the prestigious Polish Olympiad in Informatics (POI). Held from April 9 – 12, 2024, this annual event is more than just a competition and tradition dating back to its inception back 1993. It is a vibrant celebration of talent, hard work, and the boundless potential of young minds passionate about coding. Every year it underscores the critical importance programming skills have in shaping the future careers of participating students.
As technology continues to evolve and drive innovation, mastering both code and algorithms is becoming increasingly essential for young professionals poised to enter the ever-changing IT industry. Supported by two national ministries in Poland focused on national education and digital transformation, POI serves as a crucial platform for identifying and nurturing future technology leaders, offering them opportunities to shine on a national stage and preparing them for the dynamic and global world of IT.
All participants know that the journey to the finals is a demanding one. Competition begins with preliminary rounds held for thousands of students first at schools and then at regional centres. Only the best of the best advance to the national finals, making it an elite gathering of young programmers. Finals have been hosted by the University of Warsaw for years, as the faculty’s state-of-the-art facilities provide an ideal setting for such a demanding event. Participants need access to high-performance computing labs, lecture halls for problem briefings, and comfortable spaces for collaboration and rest. Hosting the finals also offers high school students a glimpse into the academic life at the Polish #1 ranked university, potentially inspiring them to pursue further studies in mathematics and computer science.
Over four days of the Finals, participants tackled a series of complex algorithmic problems that tested their knowledge, creativity, and problem-solving abilities. Each problem required not just theoretical understanding but also practical coding skills to implement efficient and correct solutions. Participants’ efforts were monitored and evaluated by a panel of judges composed of university professors and industry experts.
The culmination of the event was the awards ceremony, when participants, their families, mentors, educators, and guests gathered to celebrate the achievements of these young talents. The prizes included not only medals and certificates, but also a direct pathway for participants to seamlessly continue their education at IT-related study programs at Polish universities.
Oracle Academy and Oracle Poland have been jointly supporting the POI Finals for several years now, underscoring the importance of the IT industry contributing to the development and nurturing of young talent. The whole endeavour has been superbly led locally by Przemyslaw Porebski, Senior Technology Sales Representative in Oracle Polska, who coordinated all activities closely with Dr. Hab. Jakub Radoszewski, Associate Professor at the University of Warsaw and the Vice Chair of the Main Committee of the POI.
As Prof. Krzysztof Diks, PhD, from the Institute of Informatics at the University of Warsaw and Chair of the Main Committee emphasized, “cooperation between higher education and the IT industry is critical for nurturing the next generation of IT professionals”.
Oracle’s representative, Filip Kaznowski, Consulting Director, congratulated everyone and expressed the company’s commitment to supporting educational initiatives and recognizing the potential of young talents. According to him “the level of knowledge, skills and talent presented by young developers was impressive”, He invited the winner of the Olympiad to visit the Oracle office in Warsaw and also encouraged the participants to continue their pursuit of knowledge and innovation and confirmed that “Oracle remains both a steadfast partner of the organizers and supporter of students in their future educational journeys, through the Oracle Academy program as well as in their professional journeys, as a prospective employer”.
As the participants return to their schools and communities, they carry with them not only the recognition of their achievements but also the inspiration and encouragement to reach even greater heights. The close cooperation between all stakeholders and partners exemplifies how collective efforts can create opportunities and drive progress in education and technology for the long-term benefit of the whole society.