EDB StartUP is the national database modeling competition in Romania, now in its sixth edition. Its mission it is to provide Romanian high school students with free access to quality technical education and inspire them to build systems with real-world impact.

Organized by Adfaber together with Tudor Vianu National College of Informatics in Bucharest, and sponsored by Oracle Academy, the competition is free to Romanian students as a space where they can discover that they can learn complex concepts, work in teams, and build systems with real-world impact.

The theme of this edition was “Cyberattack and Data Breach Management System for Schools.” Every day, schools manage data about thousands of students, teachers, and parents. And every day, that data can be vulnerable to cyberattacks.

The challenge for the teams was to design a database system that:

  • Classifies different types of attacks (phishing, malware, and unauthorized access)
  • Identifies vulnerable areas and exposed data
  • Analyzes the frequency and impact of incidents
  • Provides prevention solutions tailored to schools

Over 250 students nationwide, alongside 50 coordinating teachers, chose to learn database modeling by working on real-world problems. Behind each winning project are hours of work, trial and error, questions, and moments when ideas slowly began to take shape. Students say they learned not only implementation, programming, and coding, but also how to structure and optimize their solutions—transforming abstract concepts into functional systems.

Beyond technical skills, students emphasized the essential role of mentors, saying they would not have come this far without the support and encouragement of their coordinating teachers.

The winning teams are:

First place – CyberNexus
Project: Aegis
Tudor Vianu National College of Informatics, Bucharest
Team Members: Savescu Cosmin-Constantin, Anghel Laura

Second place – CyberGuardians
Project: Protecting the High School’s Digital Path
Dante Alighieri Theoretical High School, Bucharest
Team Members: Lungu Vlad-Mihai, Mamara Andrei-Mihai

Third place – Base Girls
Project: EduSecure – Digital Protection
Mircea cel Batran National College in Ramnicu Valcea
Team Members: Stanusescu Maria, Craciunescu Mara, Paun Maria Alexandra

EDB StartUP offers more than prizes; it offers experience, skills, and confidence. Concrete technical skills that students learned included:

  • Database modeling from scratch
  • Logical and structured thinking
  • SQL and query languages
  • Systems design
  • Technical documentation

Essential soft skills that students also developed included:

  • Teamwork
  • Problem-solving
  • Critical thinking
  • Presentation and communication skills
  • Perseverance

Plus, their participation in a high-level competition means they can add a complex project to their CV, have national-level validation of their skills, and proof of independent learning ability.

The teachers who volunteered to work with students in the EDB StartUP competition are more than coordinators—they are inspiring mentors who guide and grow alongside their students. Serving as an EDB StartUP mentor means:

  • Professional development
  • Direct impact
  • Recognition
  • Personal fulfillment

We thank everyone involved in the success of this competition, and especially the teachers, who do not just teach technology, but also confidence by involving their students in competitions and mentoring them.

Watch the video of what participants said about the competition 👉 https://youtu.be/SLh37OV4lJc

Not a member? Join now. Learn more at academy.oracle.com.