RT-Engels: 30-03-2026,
Russia’s IT Olympiad wins stem from strong math, free prep clubs, and team-focused training, says Central University educator
Russian school teams have topped recent global contests in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, and one of the people behind the effort says the formula blends strong math, early training, and disciplined preparation. Ekaterina Protsko – a member of the councils of international Olympiads in AI and cybersecurity, and head of admissions and the Olympiad track at Russia’s Central University – outlined how the pipeline works.
Central University is a STEM-focused university that centers on IT, data science, business analytics and design. Under its coordination, Russia’s national teams won the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (IOAI) in 2024 and 2025, and the International Cybersecurity Olympiad (ICO) in 2025.
Protsko credits a strong school-based mathematics culture and free extracurricular Olympiad clubs for building depth.
Training also mirrors international formats. Russian Olympiads are largely individual, while global contests include team rounds. Central University, she says, bakes collaboration into preparation and shields coaches from red tape so they can focus on talent development. The university runs dedicated coaching, administrative, and international support teams.
“To get into an international Olympiad, you have to know people in industry and in the international Olympiad community, be able to negotiate with them, and defend your rights – the rights of the team and the country. At the same time, you need to develop a selection system and make sure people hear about us,” she said.