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Mentoring for Euriclea research
Raúl García Hémonnet - Marina Fuentes
The Hap.py team, made up of Olga Somalo Serrano, 5th year Software Engineering and Mathematics students; Iván Coello Rivera, 2nd year Computer Engineering students; and José Manuel Fernández Moreno, 2nd year Computer Engineering students, participated for the first time in the prestigious international competition SWERC 2024. Their main objective was to gain experience for future editions, but they exceeded expectations: in the training sessions they solved three problems, while in the official competition they managed to solve five, demonstrating remarkable progress.
Furthermore, two of its members were crowned champions in their category, and the team qualified for the national university final, achieving ninth place. The ETSII, which has participated continuously since 2016, has supported the team by funding the trip and facilitating prior training, strengthening its preparation and institutional visibility.
Competing in SWERC is a major challenge: many European universities dedicate more time and effort to professional development and preparation. In Spain, the UPC is the only university to have reached a world final, followed by teams like UMU and UCM, while the ETSII is positioned at a third competitive level alongside universities such as the Autonomous University of Madrid, the University of A Coruña, the University of Valencia, and UCM itself, although with less accumulated experience.
Upcoming challenges and continuing education
Following this initial experience, Hap.py is already preparing for its next challenges: the "Las 12 Uvas" competition at the end of the year and the "Ada Byron" competition in March. The team continues to train diligently, convinced that dedication is key to continued progress. This year, they were also accompanied by a veteran student, whose experience was fundamental in guiding the group and instilling confidence in them for their first major international competition. The team members emphasize that these types of competitions provide them with practical experience for their studies and future careers, solidifying a promising new generation of talent.