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Code, Conquer, Connect: UWI’s Runtime Competition 2025 Showcases Future Tech Leaders

For Release Upon Receipt - July 10, 2025

St. Augustine


ST. AUGUSTINE, Trinidad and Tobago. July 10, 2025 – At The University of the West Indies (The UWI), learning extends beyond the classroom and into exciting, hands-on experiences, and the Runtime Competition 2025 is a prime example. Hosted by the Department of Computing and Information Technology (DCIT) of The Faculty of Science and Technology, this year’s edition turned complex coding into an engaging, team-based challenge that mixed friendly rivalry with real-world application.

 Launched in 2012, Runtime is designed to make technical learning fun while sharpening students' programming and problem-solving skills. This year’s event adopted an upgraded competitive format and a gamified approach to prepare participants for real-life tech industry scenarios.

 Spanning February to March 2025, Runtime adopted a one season format with both Beginner and Advanced divisions, where student teams engaged in fast-paced, real-world programming challenges. Hosted on the HackerRank platform, the event tested participants’ algorithmic thinking, efficiency, and teamwork in a format modelled after international competitive programming contests such as the ICPC.

 This year’s champions emerged from a competitive field and were announced in a closing ceremony held in April.

 

  Competition Results

 Beginner Division

1st Place: Gif and Jif – Ameer Ali, Gabriella Singh, Jibril Persaud  

2nd Place: No Clue Gang – Liam Pinto, Aleem Baksh, Mohammed Kalam  

3rd Place: Knowledge Ltd – Keshav Maharaj, Kyle Ramsingh, Gabriel Kanhai

 

 Winners of the Beginners Category in the DCIT Runtime Competition 2025, Ameer Ali, Gabriella Singh, and Jibril Persaud of Team Gif and Jif, presented with the first-place token by Derrick Villeneuve.

  Advanced Division

 1st Place: 3x+1 – Zakareeyah Hosein, Dmitri Lezama, Paul Taylor  

2nd Place: MLS – Sameer Ali, Lorenzo Gould-Davies, Mark Katwaroo  

3rd Place: Brassica Oleracea – Cael Coonai, Cian Coonai, Zale Mahabir

 

 Winners of the Advanced Category in the DCIT Runtime Competition 2025, Zakareeyah Hosein, Dmitri Lezama, Paul Taylo of Team 3x+1, presented with the first-place token by Vanessa Ramirez.

 In addition to medals and a new challenge trophy, winning teams received tokens of appreciation from industry sponsors, and top performers were added to DCIT’s newly developed competitions platform – a digital archive showcasing student talent and enabling connections with employers.

 The 2025 edition also saw expanded industry collaboration. Davyn, the Platinum Sponsor, played a significant role in supporting the event’s success. Representatives Vanessa Ramirez, Ryan Shripat, Derrick Villeneuve, and Liana Lewis joined the closing ceremony to engage with participants and present awards. The Department also welcomed representatives from ZS, Keshav Bahadoor and Rajiv Sadho, highlighting the growing interest from regional and international tech firms in the DCIT talent pool.

 “Runtime is a launchpad for future-ready tech talent. This year, we pushed boundaries with our new format, introduced industry-aligned challenges, and celebrated our students’ creativity and technical grit. We're proud to build a platform that connects our students to real opportunities in the tech industry.”

— Nicholas Mendez, MSc, Instructor II, Department of Computing & IT, The UWI St. Augustine Campus

 The 2025 edition also saw expanded industry collaboration. Davyn, the Platinum Sponsor, played a key role in supporting the event’s success.

 “We’re proud to return as a Platinum Sponsor for the DCIT Runtime competition at UWI for the second consecutive year. For over 25 years, we’ve been committed to empowering young talent and driving digital transformation across the Caribbean.

 We’re passionate about supporting these young minds, and it’s truly inspiring to see their creativity, drive, and commitment to tech.”

— Davyn Ltd.

 ZS Associates returned as a gold sponsor, with representatives joining the closing ceremony.

 “ZS Associates proudly supports the DCIT Runtime Programming Competition because we believe events like these foster essential skills for thriving careers in technology. Programming competitions remain essential because they cultivate human skills that machines complement rather than replace.”

— ZS Associates

 END

 About The University of the West Indies

 The University of the West Indies (The UWI) is the Caribbean’s premier higher education institution and one of only two regional universities in the world. With five campuses across the English-speaking Caribbean and global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe, The UWI continues to be a beacon of academic excellence, research innovation, and societal impact. Consistently ranked among the world’s best by Times Higher Education (THE), The UWI is a global leader in addressing critical challenges, including climate change, sustainability, and development.

 As The UWI St. Augustine Campus celebrates its 65th anniversary in 2025 under the theme Beyond 65: From the Caribbean, For the World, it pays tribute to its Caribbean roots while highlighting its contributions to solving global challenges. This milestone underscores the campus's significant role in producing ground-breaking research and fostering talent that transcends regional boundaries to shape a better world. The UWI St. Augustine’s researchers, academics, and graduates continue to make an international impact, exemplifying the university’s mission to serve the region while influencing the world.

 Learn more at www.uwi.edu 

 

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