ICPC quarterfinals kick off at YSU

The ICPC is a globally recognized programming contest that brings together students from universities around the world. It aims to promote creative approaches among young programmers and foster teamwork and collaboration.

Rafayel Barkhudaryan, YSU Vice-Rector for Scientific Affairs, welcomed the event being held at the university and emphasized, "YSU once again hosts one of the main stages of this olympiad. The ICPC combines education and science, creating an environment for fair competition and professional development. We value excellence, scientific curiosity, and all the principles that contribute to the growth of young people. It is also noteworthy that international teams are participating in the competition held at YSU, making Armenia an important platform for interaction among representatives of the technology sector."

Vahram Dumanyan, Professor at the YSU Faculty of Informatics and Applied Mathematics and Advisor to the Prime Minister of Armenia, stated that a total of seven teams from Armenian universities are participating this year, representing YSU, the National Polytechnic University of Armenia, the American University of Armenia, the French University of Armenia, the European University, the University of Architecture and Construction, and the Russian-Armenian University.

Dumanyan highlighted that in 2026, ICPC will celebrate its 50th anniversary and noted that the competition's finals could be held in Yerevan in the coming years, marking a unique and historic event.

"Notably, the creators of ChatGPT were also former ICPC participants. More broadly, many participants of this competition have gone on to found numerous technological successes," he pointed out. 

Nerses Khachaturyan, representative of Microsoft Armenia and a former participant of the olympiad, noted, "Many major technology companies, including Microsoft, were founded by former participants of this competition. The ICPC is a vivid example of fair competition: it's just you, your computer, and your mind. In this simple setup, true professionalism becomes apparent."

A representative of JetBrains, the main sponsor of the ICPC, stated, "JetBrains has consistently supported this competition. Participants will have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the technological solutions offered by the company, its internship programs, educational courses, and other opportunities. Special internship programs are opened exclusively for ICPC participants, promoting their professional development and enhancing their programming skills." 

It is noteworthy that each year, the ICPC attracts more than 50,000 students from over 3,500 universities worldwide. Since beginning participation in 2001, YSU teams have reached the final stage several times, achieving increasingly better results each year.