The world’s leading coaches to prepare Uzbek students for ICPC

A delegation from Uzbekistan, led by Jahongir Radjabov, Business Development Director of IT Park Uzbekistan, and Bokhodir Ayupov, Director of IT Park University, participated in a series of ICPC events in Baku and held a meeting with the leadership of the competition. The discussions involved ICPC Presidents Matvey Kazakov and Bill Poucher, along with other representatives of the organization. The meeting centered on the launch of joint training programs for student teams and the potential hosting of the ICPC World Finals in Uzbekistan in 2027.

The International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC) is the world’s largest and among the most prestigious programming competitions for university students. Each year, it brings together tens of thousands of participants from over 100 countries, representing leading global universities. The contest consists of multiple stages, beginning with local and regional qualifiers and culminating in the world finals. Participation in ICPC provides students with unique opportunities for internships and employment at leading international technology and financial companies, while winners gain international recognition and prestigious awards from global sponsors. The world finals are traditionally hosted at distinguished international venues, serving as a focal point for recruiters and investors.

Particular attention during the meetings was devoted to enhancing student preparation. Discussions were held with coaches from leading institutions, including the Higher School of Economics (HSE) and Belarusian State University (BSU), resulting in agreements to organize joint training sessions and academic camps for Uzbek students in collaboration with their peers from these universities.

It was further agreed to engage international coaches specializing in competitive programming. One of them, a former ICPC medalist, will train several of Uzbekistan’s most promising teams. For less experienced groups, a tailored training program has been designed to foster the development of competitive programming skills and to ensure systematic preparation for international competitions.

The delegation also met with representatives of Huawei, who expressed interest in organizing programming contests in Uzbekistan and providing internship opportunities for Uzbek students.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the sides discussed the prospect of hosting the ICPC World Finals in Uzbekistan in 2027. The delegation presented the infrastructure capacities of Tashkent and Samarkand, emphasizing the country’s readiness to host an event of this scale. ICPC representatives, in turn, conducted a briefing on the requirements and standards for organizing the finals, thereby providing the Uzbek side with a comprehensive understanding of the technical and organizational aspects involved.

Cooperation with ICPC will create new opportunities for the advancement of IT education in Uzbekistan. The agreements on training camps, the involvement of international coaches, and the exchange of expertise will significantly strengthen the preparation of student teams, foster a community of young programmers, and enhance their competitiveness on the global stage.