Tag: Students

  • HPE Code Wars 2026: Bengaluru Coding Challenge Attracts Over 300 Students

    HPE Code Wars 2026: Bengaluru Coding Challenge Attracts Over 300 Students

    Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) hosted the 2026 edition of HPE Code Wars at its Mahadevapura campus in Bengaluru, bringing together more than 300 students from Classes 9 to 12 for its flagship school-level coding competition.

    The delegates were largely drawn from schools under the government as well as private organizations in Bengaluru, but there were students from other places like Mysore, Mangaluru, Chennai and Kotagiri too.

    The event held at HPE’s largest campus across the globe was based on coding and problem solving. According to the organizers, HPE Code Wars has emerged as one of the biggest coding contests in India.

    This all-day contest, themed ‘Wars’, comprised more than 20 programming tests, which were solved by the students using C, C++, Java, and Python 3+.

    HPE Focuses on Practical Learning

    According to HPE, the contest was formulated as a means of helping students link theoretical knowledge gained in class to practice by providing real-world programming problems for participants to solve.

    “Our goal with HPE Code Wars is to spark curiosity, build confidence, and give young programmers a taste of what it is like to work in a world-class technology environment,” said Manoj Krishna Suseela, Vice President of Engineering, HPE Servers Business & India Site R&D Leader, HPE.

    “As technology continues to reshape every industry, nurturing young talent has never been more important. HPE Code Wars reflects our commitment to empowering students with practical learning experiences that encourage innovation, strengthen problem-solving skills, and prepare them for successful careers in an increasingly digital world,” he added.

    Winners Receive Technology Toolkits

    Winners were given technology kits as well as recognition on the national level for their outstanding performance. All the competitors were given certificates and prizes worth Rs 1.5 lakh in total.

    “It was an incredible experience to compete at HPE Code Wars 2026,” said Ishaan Som Singh from Greenwood High International School, one of the winners.

    “From the exciting atmosphere to the challenging coding problems, every part of the competition motivated me to think critically, improve my programming skills, and fueled my ambition to build a career in technology,” he said.

    According to Rishikesh Muralimohan, who also hails from Greenwood High International School, the competition encouraged participants to think outside the box and remain cool even when under pressure.

    “Participating in HPE Code Wars 2026 was both challenging and rewarding. It challenged me to think differently, stay composed under pressure, and adapt quickly as each problem unfolded. The feedback and guidance throughout the competition were equally valuable and helped me refine my approach. This experience has inspired me to keep learning, take on bigger challenges, and shape my future in technology,” he said.

    Competition Started in 1998

    HPE Code Wars was established in Houston in 1998 and is one of the oldest programming contests for secondary school level. Currently, it is conducted in Roseville, Fort Collins, New Jersey, Taipei, and Barcelona, HPE sites. As per HPE, a number of the participants have been able to get admissions to prestigious institutes like MIT and IITs.

  • 10 Must-Watch TED Talks for Students to Build Leadership Skills and Confidence

    10 Must-Watch TED Talks for Students to Build Leadership Skills and Confidence

    Most leadership advice aimed at students is either too vague to act on or too corporate to feel relevant when you’re juggling group projects and student council elections, not boardrooms. These ten TED Talks are different—short enough to watch between classes, specific enough to use the same week, and popular enough that their core ideas have shaped how an entire generation thinks about leading without a title.

    Start With Why You’re Doing It

    Simon Sinek’s “How Great Leaders Inspire Action” is the obvious starting point, and it’s earned that spot with close to 61 million views. Built around his “Golden Circle” idea—people don’t follow what you do; they follow why you do it—this talk reframes everything for a student leading a club or a project: explain your purpose before your plan, and people commit harder.

    Confidence is Partly a Skill, Not Just a Trait

    Amy Cuddy’s “Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are” remains one of the most-watched TED talks of all time, with around 67 million views. She argues that posture before a high-stakes moment can shift how confident you actually feel. While some of Cuddy’s original “power posing” findings have faced reproducibility questions, which she’s acknowledged directly, the talk is still genuinely useful as a confidence ritual before a presentation—treat it as a psychological warm-up, not settled science.

    Vulnerability and Persistence Aren’t Opposites of Strength

    Brené Brown’s “The Power of Vulnerability” (around 60 million views) makes the case that admitting uncertainty builds more trust than projecting false certainty ever does—a genuinely counterintuitive lesson for students who think leadership means never looking unsure. Angela Duckworth’s “Grit” (29 million views) pairs naturally with it: her research found that passion sustained over years, not raw talent, predicts who actually finishes what they start.

    All Ten, At a Glance

    Here’s a quick overview of the remaining talks:

    • Simon Sinek (second entry): “Why Good Leaders Make You Feel Safe” argues that trust outperforms authority—useful for any student suddenly put in charge of peers.
    • Dan Pink: “The Puzzle of Motivation” shows that autonomy and purpose drive people harder than rewards do, which matters when you’re trying to motivate a team that isn’t getting paid.
    • Julian Treasure: “How to Speak So That People Want to Listen” offers practical communication techniques.
    • Susan Cain: “The Power of Introverts” makes a compelling case for introverted leadership, pushing back against the assumption that leaders must be the loudest person in the room.
    • Carol Dweck: Her talk on growth mindset reveals how believing you can improve fuels resilience and success.
    • Sheryl Sandberg: “Why We Have Too Few Women Leaders” addresses structural barriers and encourages all students to lean into challenges.

    How to Actually Use These Talks

    Watching ten talks back to back changes nothing by itself. Pick one a week. After each, write down one sentence: what would I do differently in my next group project, presentation, or club meeting because of this? That single habit—turning a 15-minute talk into one specific behavior change—is what separates students who genuinely build leadership skills from those who just collect inspiring video recommendations.

    Why This Matters

    Leadership skills begin developing long before entering the workplace. By learning from experienced leaders, researchers, and educators, students can build confidence, communicate more effectively, motivate teams, and develop resilience. These skills not only improve academic performance but also prepare students for internships, higher education, and future professional success.