194 Students from 21 Universities and Colleges Compete in the Oman Collegiate Programming Contest Organized by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology in Collaboration with Sultan Qaboos University and the Programming Academy
The Oman Collegiate Programming Contest was launched today, organized by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, in collaboration with Sultan Qaboos University and the Programming Academy. The competition features the participation of 194 students from 21 universities and colleges across various governorates of the Sultanate. The event was held under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Saif bin Abdullah Al-Haddabi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation for Scientific Research and Innovation.
The participants include 97 male and 97 female students, distributed across 65 student teams, representing a selection of top talents in programming and technology. The event will run over two days, from April 9 to 10, 2025. Participants face intensive programming challenges aimed at testing their logical thinking and algorithm design skills in a competitive environment that fosters innovation and teamwork.
Problem-Solving Skills
Fahd bin Sultan Al-Abri, Director General of the Directorate General for Sector Stimulation and Future Skills, stated that the Oman Collegiate Programming Contest is both an educational and competitive event designed to assess students’ abilities in problem-solving, algorithm design, and software development. Each team consists of three students working collaboratively to solve a set of real-world problems that require logical reasoning and the application of programming concepts.
The competition is conducted over a single five-hour session, during which all teams receive the same set of questions, which range in difficulty. Solutions are to be developed using leading programming languages such as Python, Java, and C++. Teams are scored based on the number of correct solutions, the speed of completion, and the number of attempts made.
Fostering a Culture of Innovation
Al-Abri added that the contest aims to discover and nurture young talent in the field of programming, enhance their capabilities in logical reasoning, problem-solving, and system design, and enable them to create innovative technological solutions that support the development of various sectors. The contest also seeks to instill a culture of innovation and motivate youth to harness the technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution—particularly artificial intelligence and smart applications—thereby reinforcing Oman’s progress toward a productive and innovative digital economy.
Closing and Awards Ceremony
The Oman Collegiate Programming Contest will conclude with an official ceremony honoring the winning teams and awarding cash prizes to outstanding participants who demonstrated excellence in solving complex programming challenges. The ceremony aims to celebrate their efforts and creativity in programming and encourage them to continue advancing their technical skills, supporting the realization of Oman’s sustainable digital vision and enhancing the Sultanate’s standing in innovation and technology.