The Institute of Information Technology Professionals South Africa (IITPSA) has announced that it will no longer sponsor the annual Computer Olympiads, a key development initiative aimed at uplifting youth ICT talent and enabling them to compete on a global scale.
The Computer Olympiads encompass the annual Talent Search, Programming Olympiad, Applications Olympiad, and support for a programming team that is sent to the prestigious International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) each year. Launched in 1984, the Computer Olympiads are among the largest and longest-running programmes of their kind in the world, with up to 30,000 learners and students participating in the various Olympiad initiatives each year. The IIITPSA has been the main sponsor of the Computer Olympiads since 2021.
Pearl Pasi, the IITPSA President, says: "The decision to terminate our involvement with the Computer Olympiads was not taken lightly. Unfortunately, the costs of running the Computer Olympiads have risen substantially in recent years, and it has become unsustainable for the Institute to carry these costs alone. Although the IITPSA recognises that the programme is valuable, it is no longer viable for us to continue due to a lack of consistent industry sponsorship."
She thanked the various industry sponsors and stakeholders who have supported the Computer Olympiads over the years.
"While we are saddened at having to stop running the Computer Olympiads, we are proud to note that we have positively impacted tens of thousands of young South Africans through the programme, exposing them to new skills and opportunities within the ICT sector," she says.
She adds, “The IITPSA remains committed to education and youth empowerment and will continue to drive youth-focused initiatives such as school and university outreach programmes, subsidised student membership, teacher training workshops, and support of student IITPSA chapters.
"The IITPSA is open to receiving and evaluating formal proposals from interested parties with the appropriate capacity to restore the program in the future," she concludes.
Enquiries can be made to kelvin@iitpsa.org.za
