The IEEE team from the Islamic University achieved remarkable success by securing 17th and 27th positions in the IEEEXtreme 18.0 Global Programming Competition, which saw participation from more than 12 teams representing various Palestinian universities. The event was hosted by HopeHub Initiative in Deir Al-Balah and implemented by the ACT Foundation. The competition was attended by Prof. Dr Hatem Al-Ayadi, Dean of Quality and Development and Supervisor of Student Activities at the IEEE Branch, Prof. Dr Ammar Abu Hadrous, faculty member and competition proctor, as well as a number of participating students from across the Gaza Strip.
The Islamic University was represented by 20 male and female students through its IEEE branch, alongside 15 students from other universities, forming a total of 12 teams that left an unforgettable mark on the competition.
The IEEEXtreme Competition is not merely a global programming contest; it is a platform that brings together young minds from around the world, where creativity meets intellect in a 24-hour marathon of algorithmic challenges that ignite innovation and foster teamwork and creative problem-solving.
Participating teams faced significant challenges, beginning with the competition’s official start at 2:00 a.m., while teams in Gaza began six hours later due to the prevailing circumstances. Nevertheless, determination and resilience prevailed over adversity.
Commenting on the experience, Mohammad Al-Hirthani, IEEE Student Branch Ambassador in Gaza, stated:
“Through the branch’s continuous and dedicated efforts, and despite the harsh conditions, we took part in the global competition after a seven-hour delay. Yet our determination knew no delay. We designed a local schedule that reflected our reality and the harsh conditions of war, creating a starting point suited to our environment and challenges. Despite all obstacles, we proved that creativity is born from adversity.”
The team “Gaza Script” secured 17th place in Palestine and 575th globally, while “3in1Team” achieved 27th place nationally and 1,041st worldwide.
