To Persist in Innovation and Bring out the Best in Program Design Contest: the Ninth Collegiate Programming Contest in Zhejiang Province Held in Zhejiang University

   On April 14^th, 2012 the ninth collegiate programming contest in Zhejiang Province is held in Computer Center in Zijingang Campus of Zhejiang University with 915 contestants from 350 teams of 77 universities in Zhejiang Province. The contest is supported by office of higher education of the ministry of education of Zhejiang Province and collegiate science and technology contest committee in Zhejiang, undertaken by Zhejiang University as secretariat of the contest committee for eight times. In 2003 ZJU took lead in organizing collegiate programming contest and invited 50 teams from 13 universities, on the basis of which it held the first contest in 2004 with 84 teams from 45 universities. In a short period the contest is attended by 305 teams from 77 universities which cover over 90% universities and colleges in Zhejiang Province. It is amazing with so many attending universities, wide coverage and proficient skills. In 2011 students from Zhejiang University were awarded as the champion of 35^th ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest with a remarkable performance.

   At 7 am all contest teams assemble together before the contest field -- computer center of Zjingang in ZJU. At 9 am the opening ceremony is chaired by Mao Yiping, director of scientific research and discipline contest office in teaching research center of undergraduate school, attended by Chen Yue, member of collegiate programming contest committee in Zhejiang Province and deputy president of college of computer science and technology, Weng Kai, general umpire and teacher of college of computer science and technology; Wang Can of college of computer science and technology, head of technology group and Fei Lanlan, secretary of CYL committee of college of computer science and technology in ZJU. In the opening ceremony Prof. Chen Yue gives a brief speech, then Weng Kai proclaims the rules and attentions of the contest and next all contestants enter the computer room to get familiar with the environment and practice their skills.

   At noon with the sound of whistling resounding through the building, the ninth collegiate programming contest formally pulls its curtain. Contestants begin to carefully read the questions, communicate with each other in a low voice and program with volunteers walking back and forth through the corridor to send the drafts, the atmosphere tense and active and the contest going smoothly. With the progress of the contest programming becomes more and more difficult. Most contestants furrow their brows, reflecting or quickly type the keyboard to program and debug. And the balloons on their desk get more and more, 9 at most. At about 3 pm He Qinming, director of collegiate programming contest panel and deputy president of undergraduate school, Wan Jian, Wang Rangding, Wang Ming of the panel and Zhong Rongrong, deputy director of teaching research center of undergraduate school of ZJU come to the competition field to inspect, view and direct the contest and then go to on-the-spot viewing room to communicate with team leader and coach. According to the contest rules at 4 pm the rank is closed so as to provide suspense for the last hour. At 5 pm with general umpire blowing the whistle the five-hour-long contest of drastic tension and dramatic change comes to an end.

At 7 pm the closing ceremony of the contest is held and awards are given in Theatre in Zijingang in ZJU, presided over by Zhong Rongrong, He Qinming, director of collegiate programming contest panel and deputy president of undergraduate school, Wan Jian, president of college of computer science and technology in Hangzhou Dianzi University, Prof. Chen Yue, deputy president of college of computer science and technology in ZJU, Wang Rangding, president of college of computer science and technology in Ningbo University and Wang Ming, deputy president of college of information and electronic engineering in Ningbo Dahongying University. First of all, Wan Jian gives a remarkable comment on the contest and then He Qinming delivers a speech that with the greater and great influence exerted by the contest, more and more teams take part and students are full of vigor, which significantly promotes the improvement of computer teaching and research in Zhejiang Province. Finally it is Prof. Chen Yue who reads the list of awarded students with “tired to death” from Zhejiang University of Technology ranks the first in the undergraduate group by answering 9 questions and “first team of Yuying” from Zhejiang Yuying College of Vocational Technology is awarded first prize in the vocational school group by answering 5 questions, both of which are also awarded special prize.

For 9 years discipline contest is dedicated to innovation and the programming contest provides a practice platform for students in Zhejiang University to display their uniqueness and excellence. With words like science contest, fairness, justness, awareness of challenge, teamwork, innovativeness, programming skills, poise, devotion, honesty, cooperative innovation, intensiveness, participation and mutual learning permeated through the competition field, it plays an important role in cultivating and improving university students’ comprehensive quality.