VK has announced that it will live broadcast the ICPC NEF competitions for students and the All-Russian Team Olympiad for schoolchildren, according to the company’s press service. The plan underscores VK’s commitment to supporting large-scale intellectual events and making them accessible to a broad audience through online streaming and community channels. The ICPC, or International Collegiate Programming Competition, is a global platform where teams of university students showcase their problem-solving and programming skills, and VK’s involvement aims to bring this competitive spirit closer to learners across regions.
The North Eurasia Finals (NEF) are scheduled to take place across four venues spanning Russia, Georgia, and Kazakhstan. Approximately 300 qualified teams are expected to compete for the coveted chance to advance to the ICPC finals. This regional culmination serves as a decisive step in the journey of many young programmers, offering both exposure and the opportunity to benchmark their abilities against top teams from neighboring countries and beyond. VK’s role in broadcasting the NEF aligns with its broader educational initiative and its aim to empower students with access to high-profile programming competitions.
The event will be staged in St. Petersburg and will be made available to the entire contest community through VK’s platform. In a gesture tied to the competition’s outcomes, VK will provide financial support to NEF winners to cover travel to the ICPC finals in 2024, reinforcing the company’s investment in the next generation of tech talent and their practical experiences at the world stage.
Anna Stepanova, VK’s vice president for educational projects, remarked that the organization of large-scale intellectual competitions like NEF and VKOSHP is a source of inspiration for young people to grow in technology-related fields. Her statements reflect VK’s broader mission to create opportunities for students to engage with advanced computing challenges and to connect with a community that shares a passion for innovation.
In addition to NEF, the All-Russian Team Olympiad for Schoolchildren (VKOSHP) will also be hosted in St. Petersburg. The event invites 180 teams to compete under the ICPC rules, and VKOSHP participation serves as a potential gateway for schoolchildren to advance to NEF. The live broadcast of VKOSHP adds another layer of accessibility for participants, teachers, mentors, and families who follow the competition remotely, enabling a wider audience to witness emerging talents and the rapid development of programming skills among younger students.
Historically, VK has connected educational initiatives with practical career guidance through its DreamLab laboratory, which focuses on helping schoolchildren navigate future opportunities. The current collaboration with NEF and VKOSHP continues to extend the reach of VK Education’s programs, positioning the platform as a resource for learners seeking early exposure to competitive programming, problem-solving strategies, and pathways into higher-level events like the ICPC finals.