NSU at the ICPC World Finals
A glimpse into North South University’s remarkable journey and achievements at the ICPC World Finals, highlighting its teams, participants, and the community driving competitive programming excellence.
What is the ICPC World Finals?
The International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC) is often called the “Olympic Games” for university students who excel at coding and problem-solving. In this prestigious global competition, teams of three students work together to solve as many challenging problems as possible within a five-hour time limit.
To succeed, participants need strong knowledge of mathematics, logic, algorithms, and data structures. The team that solves the most problems in the shortest amount of time wins.
The ICPC World Finals test teamwork, speed, and algorithmic thinking in a high-pressure environment — a true showcase for the best minds and problem-solvers in the world.
Steps to Reach the World Finals:
- Preliminary Round of Regional Contest
Many regions run an online contest to filter teams eligible for the onsite regional contest. - Regional Contest
Top-performing teams from the preliminaries are invited to the onsite regional contest. Teams compete in a 5-hour onsite competition solving multiple algorithmic problems. - Continental Round
In some regions, top teams from regionals advance to a super-regional or continental championship. Example: Asia West etc. Winners of regionals (or top teams from continentals) receive slots to compete in the World Finals. - World Finals
Qualified teams from all over the globe contest in the final event (5 hours), and the team solving the most problems (with least penalty time) wins.
📜 NSU’s ICPC World Finals Timeline
North South University has proudly represented Bangladesh at the ICPC World Finals four times, showcasing the talent and dedication of its students on the global stage.
| Year | Regional Site | Team Name | Contestants | Coach | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Dhaka | NSU_Stolichnaya | Akash Lanard, Salman Sahel, Mehran Siddiqui | Silvia Ahmed | Qualified for World Finals 2021 (Dhaka, Bangladesh). |
| 2016 | Amritapuri | NSU BugLovers | Mohammad Samiul Islam, Hasib Al Muhaimin, Ahmed Faiyaz | Dr. Shazzad Hosain | 3rd in Dhaka Regional 2015, 4th in Amritapuri; qualified for World Finals 2016 (Phuket, Thailand). |
| 2009 | Kuala Lumpur | NSU ARCTURUS | Samee Zahur, M. Mustafijur Rahman Faysal, Md. Ameer Hamza | - | Represented NSU in Malaysia — setting the stage for future generations. |
| 1998 | Dhaka | NSU Dream | Tarique Zaman Chowdhury, Mehrin Shahed, Salman Ahmed Awan | - | NSU’s first-ever appearance at the ICPC World Finals. |
Spotlight: The Modern Era of NSU ICPC Teams
NSU_Stolichnaya — ICPC 2021 (Dhaka, Bangladesh)
- Participants: Akash Lanard, Salman Sahel, Mehran Siddiqui
- Coach: Silvia Ahmed
- Achievements:
- 🏅 Qualified for the ICPC World Finals 2021, representing NSU once again on the world stage.
This team’s qualification symbolized the continuity of NSU’s programming excellence — another milestone powered by the NSUPS community.
NSU_BugLovers — ICPC 2016 (Phuket, Thailand)
- Participants: Mohammad Samiul Islam, Hasib Al Muhaimin, Ahmed Faiyaz
- Coach: Dr. Shazzad Hosain
- Achievements:
- 🥉 3rd place among 122 teams in ICPC Dhaka Regional 2015
- 🏅 4th place in ICPC 2015 Asia Regional Amritapuri Site
- 🏆 Qualified for ICPC World Finals 2016 (Phuket, Thailand)
Their success marked the revival of NSU’s competitive programming dominance after nearly a decade.
NSUPS: The Community Behind the Legacy
The backbone of NSU’s ICPC success is NSUPS (North South University Problem Solvers) — a vibrant community of programmers, mentors, and alumni dedicated to cultivating problem-solving culture.
What NSUPS Does:
- Organizes regular training sessions and mock contests.
- Connects experienced alumni with new students for mentorship.
- Represents NSU in ICPC regionals and national programming contests.
From weekly problem discussions to national-level achievements, NSUPS continues to empower the next generation of coders who dream of reaching the World Finals.
📚 Credits & Acknowledgments
Special thanks to all the brilliant minds who represented NSU at the ICPC World Finals over the years:
- NSU_Stolichnaya (2021) — Akash Lanard, Salman Sahel, Mehran Siddiqui, Coach: Silvia Ahmed
- NSU BugLovers (2016) — Mohammad Samiul Islam, Hasib Al Muhaimin, Ahmed Faiyaz, Coach: Dr. Shazzad Hosain
- NSU ARCTURUS (2009) — Samee Zahur, M. Mustafijur Rahman Faysal, Md. Ameer Hamza
- NSU Dream (1998) — Tarique Zaman Chowdhury, Mehrin Shahed, Salman Ahmed Awan
We expect to see more finalists from NSU in the coming years as the community continues to grow and inspire. The journey of NSU at the ICPC World Finals is a testament to the power of dedication, teamwork, and the relentless pursuit of excellence in competitive programming.