The Irish Computer Society (ICS) and Maynooth University are celebrating another successful year of the Bebras Computing Challenge in Ireland, with over 12 200 students from across the Ireland participating in this year’s competition.

The Bebras Challenge, an international initiative designed to promote computational thinking among students aged 8-18, saw participation from primary and secondary schools across all counties in Ireland during the November 2024 challenge week.

“The phenomenal growth of Bebras in Ireland demonstrates the increasing recognition of computational thinking as a fundamental skill for today’s students,” said Tiziana Margaria, President of the Irish Computer Society. “This challenge helps develop problem-solving abilities that are essential for all careers, not just those in technology.”

The competition, which is free to enter, presents students with engaging tasks that require no prior knowledge of programming, making it accessible to all students while introducing them to computer science concepts.

Key highlights from this year’s challenge include:

• Participation from over 2730 schools nationwide
• Strong engagement from DEIS schools
• Enhanced teacher resources and support materials
• New problem-solving tasks aligned with current technology trends

Tom Naughton from Maynooth University’s Department of Computer Science noted, “The collaboration between Maynooth University and the ICS continues to strengthen the competition’s academic foundations while ensuring its practical relevance for Irish students.”

Top-performing students will be invited to the National Bebras Finals in early 2025, where they will compete for the title of Ireland’s top computational thinker in their age category.