The’Bebras Olympiad has celebrated this Wednesday, March 4 an event recognizing students with the best results in the first edition of this Catalan competition on computational thinking, aimed at primary, secondary, and high school students.
The event highlighted both the effort of the participating students and the work of teachers and educational centers, which made this educational initiative possible, aiming to bring computational thinking to students in an accessible and motivating way.
The ceremony was held at the Cosmocaixa auditorium, with the collaboration of the La Caixa Foundation. Students with the highest scores in the different categories of the competition were invited, as well as a representation of teachers from across the territory, who had actively participated in the organization and development of the activity at educational centers.
A first edition with high participation
The first edition of the Bebras Olympiad in Catalonia, held during the Science Week of 2025, recorded very notable participation. In total, more than 40,000 primary and secondary school students took part in the test, making this initiative the educational activity on computational thinking with the highest participation in the Catalan territory.
Furthermore, the organization of the competition involved the direct participation of 1,000 teachers i more than 350 educational centers, who coordinated student participation as an educational resource in the classroom.
The activity proposed a series of short challenges to stimulate and test their reasoning ability and skill in analyzing situations and finding creative solutions.
Challenges to stimulate computational thinking
The problems proposed in the Bebras competition were developed from challenges used in other participating countries of the international Bebras project, as well as new original proposals developed by Catalan teachers from different educational stages, from primary school to university.
These challenges are designed to stimulate algorithmic thinking, analytical ability, and problem-solving. Although inspired by concepts from computer science and mathematics, they do not require prior programming knowledge, allowing students from different educational levels to participate.
This approach makes it possible to introduce key concepts of mathematics, such as logic and computational thinking, in a playful and educational way, fostering students' interest in scientific and technological disciplines.
Recognition for students, teachers, and schools
Students with the best results received special recognition for their scores in the different categories of the competition.
The students received a personalized diploma, recognizing their participation in this educational initiative, a special bag for the occasion, and various items donated by collaborating entities and companies.
The event also aimed to highlight the involvement of teachers and educational centers, who played a key role in the dissemination and implementation of the competition in schools and institutes. Capacity limitations did not allow inviting all teachers with award-winning students, but there was a good representation.
Teachers representing centers from various areas of Catalonia that had very high participation were also invited, to symbolize that not only results but also participation are valued. This initiative is carried out remotely, which also promotes territorial equity.
An initiative with international projection
The Bebras Olympiad in Catalonia is promoted by the association Catalan Informatics Olympiad (oiCat), the Catalan Society of Mathematics (SCM) and the Catalan Society of Technology.
The competition is linked to the Bebras International Contest, an educational initiative currently developed in more than 80 countries and which each year mobilizes millions of students around the world. Participation data in Catalonia has placed it at the level of countries like Brazil, with very high participation.
With activities like this, the organizing entities aim to promote the development of computational thinking among students and contribute to fostering scientific and technological vocations from the earliest educational stages.
To consult more information and the competition results, you can visit the official website:
https://bebras.cat/
