Lisbon students break world record for largest programming lesson
Portugal’s technology sector gains momentum as nearly 1,700 students participate in a record-breaking programming class at the University of Lisbon.
Nearly 1,700 students gathered at the University of Lisbon’s IST school of technology on Saturday to set a new Guinness World Record for the largest computer programming lesson in a single venue. The event saw 1,668 participants, surpassing the previous record of 724 set in Dallas, United States, in 2016.
The Guinness World Records adjudicator, Paulina Sapinska, confirmed the official total of participants after the lesson. The organisers hoped the event would draw more international attention to Portugal as a rising hub for information technology and promote wider interest in computing.
Rogerio Colaco, the head of IST, underlined the growing importance of computing skills. He likened today’s computing literacy to the fundamental ability to read and write 100 years ago, stating that everyone should have a basic understanding of computer science and programming to navigate modern life.
The lesson demonstrated Portugal‘s commitment to fostering technological education, aiming to inspire more people to engage with the ever-evolving field of computer science.