From Bremen to Tashkent: ACTS summer camp alumni dominate IOI 2026 with 51-medal haul

Constructor University’s campus in Bremen has officially transformed into a global hub for elite competitive programming. From July 10 to July 20, 2026, the university hosted the summer edition of the Algorithm and Code Training School (ACTS), marking the very first time this prestigious international camp was held in Germany. The intensive 11-day training initiative welcomed more than 100 exceptional high school students representing 25 countries and offered a series of expert-led lectures and workshops, exciting contests, as well as social activities and time to explore the area.

The vast majority of the young participants are winners or top-tier performers in regional and national informatics Olympiads within their respective home nations. For many of the attendees, the ACTS summer camp served as the final critical training ground before they represented their home countries at the 38th International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI 2026) in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

The rigorous preparation yielded historic success. Following the conclusion of IOI 2026 in August, 67 ACTS alumni from various cohorts successfully competed on the global stage, securing an outstanding total of 51 medals—including 5 gold, 21 silver, and 25 bronze medals, alongside 5 honorable mentions.

"The intensity of the training at ACTS is unmatched, making it the perfect final preparation before the International Olympiad in Informatics in August. Being on campus in Bremen has not only sharpened my algorithmic skills but has also opened my eyes to studying in Germany. Competing alongside peers from 25 different countries shows you just how global the future of computer science really is," one participant said.

The program immersed the young coders in a university environment through advanced lectures by professors, hands-on workshops, and competitive individual and team programming trials. Living on the Bremen campus, participants also enjoyed a vibrant social schedule of sports and recreational activities aimed at intercultural exchange. With the support of Constructor University, Neapolis University Pafos, and the JetBrains Foundation, the program is fully funded for selected students, covering accommodation, meals, learning materials, and excursions.  

"Bringing the ACTS summer camp to Germany for the first time is a significant milestone for Constructor University and our mission at the Constructor Talent School" said Olga Kornienko, Head of Student Talent Recruitment. “Hosting these 106 brilliant minds on our Bremen campus allows us to provide a rigorous academic environment where the world's future technology leaders can push their boundaries, collaborate across cultures, and discover the elite academic programs we offer here alongside partners like the JetBrains Foundation."

Expanding the global STEM pipeline

The ACTS camps are organized bi-annually, alternating between summer and winter, and are a core component of the Constructor Talent School's broader mission to discover, nurture, and support exceptional young global STEM talent. In order to expand its reach, ACTS ran a parallel training camp in Kazakhstan, tailored specifically for members of the national IOI teams from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Azerbaijan.

By bringing these bright minds directly onto the Bremen campus, Constructor University gives international students a firsthand look at world-class academic infrastructure and future research pathways. Historically, the camp has proven to be a direct pipeline to higher education; numerous ACTS alumni later enroll as full-time undergraduate students at Constructor University. A popular destination for these talents is the specialized Software, Data and Technology Bachelor's program, which was developed in close collaboration with the JetBrains Foundation.

Through high-level algorithmic lectures, mock competitions, and intercultural networking events, ACTS 2026 continued to bridge geographical boundaries to build the next generation of digital innovators.