IIT Ropar Hosts ACM COMPUTE Conference 2025
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar proudly hosted the ACM COMPUTE Conference 2025 from December 7 to December 9, 2025. This three-day event was organized by the iSIGCSE (India Chapter of the Special Interest Group on Computer Science Education) in collaboration with the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and the Special Interest Group on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE). The conference serves as the flagship education conference of ACM India.
Conference Overview
With over 150 delegates in attendance, including educators, researchers, and industry professionals, the conference focused on advancing computing education in India. The event was inaugurated by Prof. Rajeev Ahuja, the director of IIT Ropar, who emphasized the importance of collaboration in enhancing educational standards.
Keynote Speakers
The conference featured six keynote addresses from distinguished speakers, each bringing their expertise to the forefront of discussions on computing education. The keynote speakers included:
- Prof. Tanmoy Chakraborty – ACM OCCE Award Winner
- Prof. Maria Mercedes (Didith) T. Rodrigo
- Shoaib Dar
- Prof. Clif Kussmaul
- Dr. Tanuja Ganu
- Dr. Radhika Trikha
These experts covered a variety of topics, including the role of Natural Language Processing (NLP) education in the era of Large Language Models (LLMs) and the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on educational methodologies.
Panel Discussions
Two significant panel discussions were held during the conference, addressing critical issues in the field of computing education:
- Industry-Academic Collaboration
- The Role of AI in Teaching
These discussions aimed to bridge the gap between academia and industry, fostering a collaborative environment for future advancements.
Research Paper Presentations
The conference featured parallel tracks for research paper presentations, focusing on various aspects of computing education:
- Computing Education Research
- Curricula Design
- India-Specific Challenges in Computing Education
This format allowed for a diverse range of topics to be discussed, providing attendees with insights into the latest research and developments in the field.
Best Practices Ideas Session
A special session titled “Best Practices Ideas Session” was dedicated to honoring the legacy of Prof. Rajaraman, a pioneer in Indian computing education. This session was held under the theme “Architecting the Future of CS Education,” highlighting innovative approaches and strategies to enhance computing education across the country.
Workshops and Interactive Sessions
The conference also included an extensive program of interactive workshops covering a wide range of topics, such as:
- Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning (POGIL)
- AI-Assisted Teaching Tools
- High-Performance Computing for Education
- Innovative AI/ML Pedagogies
These workshops provided participants with hands-on experience and practical knowledge that they could apply in their own educational settings.
Sponsorship and Support
The ACM COMPUTE Conference 2025 was made possible through the generous support of several major sponsors, including:
- Annam.ai
- Neysa
- NPTEL
- IIT Madras BS Degree Programme
- Github
- Flame University
In addition, institutional partners such as Persistent Systems, TCS Research, Google, Ola Electric, and IBM played a vital role in supporting the conference’s objectives.
Focus on Tier 2 and Tier 3 Colleges
A significant emphasis of the conference was on reaching educators from Tier 2 and Tier 3 colleges across India. The goal was to expand access to quality computing education nationwide, ensuring that all students have the opportunity to thrive in the digital age.
Conclusion
The ACM COMPUTE Conference 2025 at IIT Ropar was a landmark event that brought together key stakeholders in the field of computing education. Through engaging discussions, insightful presentations, and collaborative workshops, the conference aimed to shape the future of computing education in India and beyond.
Note: The information provided in this article is based on the events and discussions that took place during the ACM COMPUTE Conference 2025.
