CTU Open workshop 2026: sign up your team and get a head start
Sep 29, 2026
Last year we partnered with CTU Open for the first time, and alongside a test problem we ran a workshop for the contestants. It went down well, so we're doing it again this year, with a more hands-on, practical format. The workshop will once again be led by Jakub Zíka and Daria Bilan, Python developers at Qminers and former successful competitive programmers themselves.
What's changing
Last year was mostly lectures. This year we're keeping only the opening block on the basics: how to approach the contest and what to watch out for. The rest of the day is all about working on real problems. Another new thing: you sign up as a team!
At the start, teams split up roles and agree on a strategy. Then they get a set of prepared problems and time to work on them on their own first. They can talk through whatever questions come up with the instructors, whether it's about dividing the work or the problems themselves. After the break we'll go through solutions to the easier problems, with some time for a short reflection. In the afternoon we'll get back to solving and wrap up the day by going over the remaining problems.
When and for how long
16 October, CTU Faculty of Electrical Engineering (FEL) building at Karlovo náměstí, Prague (room to be confirmed)
10:00 Intro: how to approach the contest and what to watch out for
10:30 Technical setup
10:45 Teams split up roles, agree on a strategy and dive into the problems, instructors are on hand
12:30 Lunch
13:00 Walkthrough of the easier problems, a short reflection, and back to solving
15:30 Recap of the remaining problems
16:00 End
How to sign up
Register on luma.com. Only one person per team needs to do it. Before you click "Request to Join", make sure you set the number of people in your team on the ticket counter and add your teammates' names and emails in the note. We prefer sign-ups with a university email address. Free entry!
What to bring
Paper and a pencil. If you have printed materials you'd like to use during the contest, like algorithm cheat sheets or your own implementations, feel free to bring them. Ideally also one laptop per team.
Who can sign up
The only requirement? Your team is registered for CTU Open 2026. Places are limited: we can take up to 15 teams of three to four people.
Registration here: https://luma.com/vopsbh9x
The ICPC International Collegiate Programming Contest is a programming competition in which universities from around the world compete against each other. ICPC contests give talented students the chance to meet, show what they can do, and further develop their skills in teamwork, programming and problem solving. The ICPC is a global platform through which academia, industry and the wider community can put the spotlight on the next generation of computing professionals and raise their ambitions as they pursue excellence.
The contest
It starts with local rounds organized by individual universities and culminates in regional contests organized or hosted by universities. From these, teams advance to the ICPC World Finals. Teams can only advance from qualifying contests, and their hierarchy is listed in the ICPC Registration System. At any level, teams may also be invited to the next round through a wildcard. Wildcards are awarded in line with the ICPC's goals: to involve as many students as possible, from as many universities and as many places around the world as possible, and to give them equal access to the World Finals. The regional round for this year's edition will take place in Wrocław in January.