Cooperative Problem Solving & Competitive Programming
This is the official page for the Cooperative Problem Solving and Competitive Programming student group at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice.
We meet every Thursday from 15:45 to 17:15. Our sessions are designed to be hands-on and interactive:
- The Kick-off (30 mins): A lightning talk by a RAVEN researcher on a specific algorithmic topic or technique.
- The Lab (60 mins): You will work in small groups to solve a set of curated problems.
After a batch of lectures on related topics, we will hold a friendly coding competition during the lecture hours.
Lecture Archive & Materials
This archive is updated weekly with the topics covered and relevant resources.
| Date | Room | Topic | Materials | Lecturer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 7, 2026 | 1B (Delta) | Linked Data Structures | Introduction, Slides | Alessio Campanelli |
| May 14, 2026 | B (Zeta) | Heaps and Priority Queues | Slides | Ruben Becker |
| May 21, 2026 | B (Zeta) | Union-Find Data Structure | Slides | Davide Cologni |
| May 28, 2026 | B (Zeta) | Programming Contest | After the lecture | Riccardo Maso |
| Jun 4, 2026 | B (Zeta) | Complete Search | Slides | Ruben Becker |
| Jun 11, 2026 | C (Zeta) | Divide & Conquer | After the lecture | Davide Cologni |
| Jun 25, 2026 | Acadia (Zeta) | Greedy | After the lecture | Riccardo Maso |
| Jul 2, 2026 | Acadia (Zeta) | Programming Contest | After the lecture | Alessi Campanelli |
What is the Purpose of this Group?
This group is designed for students who want to improve their theoretical and practical algorithmic knowledge. Our activities focus on:
- Deepening Algorithmic Knowledge: We go beyond standard coursework to explore advanced data structures and state-of-the-art algorithms. You will learn not just how to use these tools, but how to adapt them to unique and challenging scenarios.
- Complex Problem Reasoning: We focus on developing the skills required to tackle high-complexity problems.
- Collaborative Problem Solving: You will develop the skills to address complex problems in a group, learning to effectively brainstorm and communicate technical ideas with your peers.
- Career & Competition Readiness: Our sessions provide the perfect training ground for technical job interviews at top-tier tech companies (like Google or Meta) and prepare teams for prestigious international contests such as ITACPC, SWERC, and ICPC.