Computing students take second place in international programming competition

Wednesday, 04 April, 2012

A team of students from Robert Gordon University’s (RGU) School of Computing recently achieved a top position in the Irish Collegiate Programming Contest.

Working to solve eight complex programming problems over the course of a four-hour timed period, BSc (Hons) Computer Science students, Alin Rohnean (21), Alexandru Faur (23), and Alexandru Ghitescu-Hrin (22) who live in the city centre, along with Team Coach and Lecturer Dr Daniel Doolan, battled it out against 30 other university teams, coming in second place just behind Dublin Institute of Technology after leading the competition for the first half.

Hosted by University College Cork’s Association for Computing Machinery Student Chapter, the competition was designed to foster a passion for computer programming by bringing together students from across the UK to put their knowledge of algorithms, problem solving and computer programming to the test.

The RGU team, who were the only Scottish competitors in the contest, were sponsored in the competition by Aberdeen-based IT firm, Codify, specialists in developing software for business. Codify’s Managing Director, Mark Griffiths, is a graduate from RGU’s School of Computing and several of his staff are fellow RGU alumni. A member of staff also currently sits on the School’s Industrial Advisory Board.

Mark Griffiths commented:

“I would like to congratulate the team on this fantastic achievement - to come second out of 30 teams speaks volumes about the calibre of talent. I look forward to Codify continuing to support RGU’s students and this important industry in the future.”

Daniel Doolan, Team Coach and Lecturer at the School, adds:

“I am delighted that our students placed so high in a competition with such a high standard of entries. The team worked hard and dealt with the pressure of competing at an international level very well.

“I’d like to thank Codify for their generous support without which this success would not have been possible.”

Issued by:
Sarah Grieve
Communications Officer | Faculty of Design & Technology
Robert Gordon University
Schoolhill
Aberdeen
AB10 1FR
Tel: 01224 262206
Email: s.j.grieve@rgu.ac.uk.

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