Bangalore, January 12, 2024: In a remarkable display of enthusiasm, 40% of the student population at International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIITB) has registered for the institution’s newly launched value-added course in competitive programming. The course inaugurated by IIITB alumni Aditya Paliwal and Simran Dokania, both prominent figures in the tech industry, aims to equip students with fundamental problem-solving skills crucial for excelling in technical interviews and becoming industry-ready.

Aditya Paliwal, Quantitative Researcher at Citadel Securities, and Simran Dokania, Staff Software Engineer at Rippling, demonstrated the significance of problem-solving skills in the face of rapid advancements in artificial intelligence technologies, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT. They showcased how even sophisticated AI solutions can falter, emphasizing the need for human problem-solving capabilities.

The course, led by renowned instructors Prof. V N Muralidhara and Prof. Vivek Yadav has garnered 550 registrations, making it the most popular course at IIIT Bangalore. Both instructors are distinguished in competitive programming and coached Aditya and Simran to represent India at the World Finals of the prestigious ICPC in 2017 and 2018.

Prof. V N Muralidhara, an expert in competitive programming, emphasized, “Mastering algorithms through competitive programming is a cornerstone for innovation. Competitive programming lays a robust technical groundwork essential for a thriving IT career.”

On the practical aspects, Prof. Vivek Yadav noted, “Competitive programming teaches you to write more efficient code. Quick thinking in competitive programming translates to faster software development.”

Aditya and Sirman shared their perspective, “Tackling complex problems in competitive programming prepares you for advanced AI technologies.” This sentiment resonates with the mission of the course, providing students with the tools necessary to excel in the ever-evolving landscape of artificial intelligence.

As the demand for skilled professionals in AI continues to rise, IIITB’s initiative to blend competitive programming with AI education proves to be a strategic move, ensuring that students are not only equipped with theoretical knowledge but also possess the practical problem-solving skills crucial for success in the industry.