Summer School of Informatics started at UzhNU

About 200 children of different ages who are interested in information technologies and dream of working in the IT field, got together at the Summer School of Informatics. Such training for schoolchildren is taking place in Transcarpathia for the first time. It was organized owing to joint efforts of Uzhhorod National University, IT cluster of Transcarpathia, and local authorities. On Monday, August 1, 2022, the official opening of the School took place in the conference hall of UzhNU. The rector of UzhNU, prof. Volodymyr Smolanka, the head of the Transcarpathian Regional Military Administration Viktor Mykyta, the head of the Transcarpathian Regional Council Volodymyr Chubirko, the director of the department of education and science, youth and sports of the Transcarpathian Regional Military Administration Maryana Marusynets, and the head of the board of the Transcarpathian IT-cluster Zhanna Kapitsa were present at the opening ceremony.

Volodymyr Mykyta said: "We are opening a new page in the history of Transcarpathia today. Despite the war and the hostilities taking place on our territory, it is important to continue working for the future of our children. When creating an IT cluster in the region, we also took into account the fact that its capabilities could be used for training young people. I am grateful to Zhanna Kapitsa, with whom we started working on the IT cluster from the first days of the war. Our experience is a good example when cooperation between the government and business brings good results for citizens. IT is a profitable activity. We are observing an increase in revenues to the budget throughout the region today also owing to the people working in the field of IT. We want to use these funds for the development and for the benefit of our future, our children. I hope that this idea is very timely and relevant. With the support of our entire team, we are launching an important process for the development of the IT sphere in Transcarpathia."

Volodymyr Chubirko, the head of the Transcarpathian Regional Council, noted: "Transcarpathia is undoubtedly rich in natural treasures, which attract tourists from all over the country and beyond. Therefore, it is very important for our region in this difficult time to find the right business formula, which will definitely not harm the environment, and will bring many benefits to its residents. This is a great initiative! In cooperation of the authorities with IT people, it became possible to concentrate such a powerful cluster of IT specialists in the region during the war. It is equally important to use such opportunities in various ways, also for the education of our youth. Thanks to the Summer School of Informatics, students will get theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the field of the future."

Volodymyr Smolanka, the rector of UzhNU emphasized: "It is a great pleasure for me to greet all the participants of the first Summer School of Informatics. It is especially nice that the school will be held at our university. Uzhhorod National University has very good IT traditions. First of all, we train IT specialists in 6 specialisms at 4 faculties. We are especially proud of the fact that before the war, our university's team repeatedly reached the finals of the World Programming Championship and occupied high positions on a par with the representatives of such universities as Cambridge and Oxford. We are holding a Summer School on Programming for the sixth time in August. The best students programmers from all over the country will participate in it. We are delighted about the new initiative that continues our traditions - the Summer School of Informatics for schoolchildren. No one doubts that children are our future, and I, as the rector, will be glad to see you as our students in a few years. I wish you successful studies and new friends!

Zhanna Kapitsa, the head of the board of the Transcarpathian IT cluster noted: "It is a great honor for me to participate in the creation of such an initiative, because we are sowing the seeds that will surely sprout. The ability to do the impossible is already something persistent in the Transcarpathian region. I returned to Transcarpathia as an internally displaced person and received great support from the Regional Military Administration, UzhNU and our community that moved here. Some statistics: until February 24, there were about 2,000 IT workers in Transcarpathia, and now there are about 30-35,000. More than 190 companies have been relocated to Transcarpathia, more than 100 companies applied for membership in the IT cluster of Transcarpathia. We are a little more than 3 months old, however, our ambitions for the transformation and improvement of IT education in the region are big. I have a great hope that your generation will show who the real Ukrainians are."

Leading specialists of IT companies, scientists, professors, PhDs and teachers will participate in the work of the school.  They will conduct master classes and willingly share the most recent knowledge and their experience in the field of IT and outline prospects for self-realization. Teachers of the School prepare a lot of interesting things: both theoretical and practical. They will help students to look into the real IT world and help them understand how they want to develop.

 

 

• Education