Educator outlines Russia’s success in global IT Olympiads

(SeaPRwire) –   An educator from Central University states that Russia’s success in IT Olympiads is rooted in robust mathematics education, complimentary preparatory clubs, and training that emphasizes teamwork.

Russian school teams have recently achieved leading positions in international competitions for artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. A key figure involved in these endeavors indicates that the successful approach combines solid mathematical foundations, early skill development, and rigorous preparation. Ekaterina Protsko, who serves on the councils of international AI and cybersecurity Olympiads and heads admissions and the Olympiad track at Russia’s Central University, detailed the operational framework.

Central University is a STEM-oriented institution concentrating on IT, data science, business analytics, and design. With its oversight, Russia’s national teams secured victories in the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (IOAI) in both 2024 and 2025, as well as the International Cybersecurity Olympiad (ICO) in 2025.

Protsko attributes the development of profound talent to a robust school-based mathematics culture and readily available extracurricular Olympiad clubs.

The training methodology also reflects international competition structures. While Russian Olympiads are predominantly individual, global contests often feature team rounds. Central University, Protsko explains, integrates collaborative elements into its preparation and protects coaches from excessive bureaucracy, allowing them to concentrate on nurturing talent. The university operates specialized teams for coaching, administration, and international support.

“To get into an international Olympiad, you have to know people in industry and in the international Olympiad community, be able to negotiate with them, and defend your rights – the rights of the team and the country. At the same time, you need to develop a selection system and make sure people hear about us,” she stated.

The recognition received now goes beyond mere medals. Protsko observes that national teams from CIS, BRICS, and various European countries are seeking methodological assistance from Central University’s experts.

“We see this from Central University students at Olympiads: our undergraduates are in no way inferior and are sometimes even stronger than students from leading foreign universities. We invest a great deal in education because we want talented students to stay in Russia,” she affirmed.

The university provides grants, access to research laboratories, adaptable schedules, and Olympiad clubs covering cybersecurity, AI, economics, and software development, with biotechnology and design clubs slated for future introduction. Participation is available even to students who lack previous Olympiad experience. “We want the opportunity to compete at the student level not only for Olympiad winners and medalists, but also for those who, for various reasons, did not have the chance to take part in such school competitions,” Protsko remarked.