EuroCodeCup 2024: Celebration of Young Coders at the Croatian Primary School Matija Gubec

Publication date: November 18, 2024

In an era where innovation shapes our future, coding has become a universal language, empowering boys and girls alike to think creatively, solve problems, and design solutions for tomorrow’s challenges. The EuroCodeCup 2024 was a testament to this transformative power. This event brought together young minds from across Europe to showcase their talent, determination, and ingenuity in programming.

On Thursday, November 7th 2024, Primary School Matija Gubec in Cernik, Croatia, hosted the European coding competition EuroCodeCup, an event organised by Nelson Mandela University in South Africa. This unique competition brought together young coding enthusiasts from across Europe, with 28 teams from five countries participating. Among these competitors were three teams representing Primary School Matija Gubec: LabGirls, CroCodiNG, and 3T – Turbo Teaching Team.

The competition challenged students using the Juicy Gems app, accessible on their mobile devices. Each team aimed to solve 15 levels of problem-solving tasks, requiring a combination of basic algorithmic structures: sequence, loops, and branching. To complete each level, students arranged sequences of commands with paper tokens from the Rangers app, employing logical thinking and programming skills. Informatics teacher Kristina Slišurić provided essential guidance and preparation for the school’s teams, setting them up for success.

All three teams from Cernik successfully completed the 15 levels within the 60-minute time limit, with LabGirls finishing ahead of the competition by completing every level first. The awards ceremony took place on November 11th, 2024, via Zoom, where the winners of the EuroCodeCup were announced. LabGirls proudly secured second place in Europe, with first place going to a team from Germany and third place awarded to a team from Cyprus. All teams from the Primary School Matija Gubec also qualified for the global round of the competition, scheduled for December 5th 2024.

Introducing the Teams

LabGirls – Composed of Lucija, Bruna, and Anđela, LabGirls share a love for dancing, drawing, mobile games, and programming. Their passion for sports and team-based activities makes them natural leaders at school, always ready to tackle new challenges with creativity and perseverance.

CroCodiNG – The CroCodiNG team includes Ivan, Gabrijel, and Lukas, avid gamers and young coding enthusiasts. Known for their love of technology and exploration in the digital world, this trio is dedicated to improving their coding skills and bringing their enthusiasm for tech into their problem-solving approach.

3T – Turbo Teaching Team comprises Fran, Hrvoje, and Marin. The team is characterised by their curiosity about mobile technology, social media, and innovation. Their shared drive to learn and collaborate makes them a powerful team, always eager to pursue more coding challenges.

The success of the Croatian teams, especially the LabGirls’ remarkable achievement of second place in Europe, sends a resounding message: when we nurture creativity, collaboration, and a love for technology, the future shines brighter for everyone. As these young talents prepare for the global round, they remind us that with the right opportunities, the leaders and innovators of tomorrow are ready to code their way into a better world.