On Saturday, 5th October, our talented coders made their mark at the KL Coding Cup in Shah Alam, and they didn’t just compete—they dominated! Since the competition’s launch in 2018, it has grown into Southeast Asia’s largest in-person coding competition for international schools, thanks to the vision of Mr. James Abela, our very own Director of Digital Learning and Entrepreneurship. This year, the competition was open to students aged 11-16 and, for the first time, used the rigorous HackerRank platform, which is widely used to test professional coders. With HackerRank’s unforgiving approach—where answers are either right or wrong—our students were truly put to the test, and their resilience shone through.
The competition brought together 130 students across 42 teams from six schools, including KLASS, Sri KDU, Park City, HELP International School, ELC, and GIS. We couldn’t be prouder of our 28 students, including an all-girls team that finished 3rd overall in their very first outing! Our KS4 team, AsianMeta, placed 2nd, and the overall champions, Euarchonta, were also from GIS. In the final rankings, HELP International School came in 3rd, Sri KDU placed 2nd, and GIS emerged as the Junior KL Coding Cup champions.
The KL Coding Cup was born from a simple idea in 2018: to give coding the recognition it deserves. While sports, Maths, and drama had plenty of spotlight in the international school community, coding was often overlooked. But coding, or computational thinking, is essential for solving today’s biggest challenges, from climate change to global hunger—and even those daily dilemmas, like deciding what to wear! For younger students, we introduce coding in fun and engaging ways, using robots, logic games, and apps.
Our Coding Dragons squad, which started as a small group of Key Stage 3 students passionate about coding, has now grown into a 60-member team, with students from Years 7 to 13. We’ve also introduced an all-female primary coding class, led by our sixth-form female coders, to inspire the next generation of girls in tech. Coding at GIS is all about collaboration, with students progressing based on ability, not age. This creates a strong sense of community and builds confidence—not just in coding but also in leadership and teamwork.
One of the highlights of our programme is our custom-built curriculum, which has gained international recognition. It’s been featured in Hello World magazine, earned the “Best Curriculum” award from Replit, and helped GIS become an Apple Distinguished School. This innovative approach has fueled our students’ success, both in competitions and academically. Last year, we were awarded “Best in Malaysia” for top performance in computer science, with our value-added results being in the top 4% globally.
But the real success stories come from our alumni. Take Isaac Pau, for example—one of the standout students from the first KL Coding Cup in 2018. After competing, Isaac went on to study at Cambridge University, continuing his journey in the field of Computer Science. Su Mae, another brilliant coder from that first cohort, attended Carnegie Mellon, one of the world’s top universities for computer science. And let’s not forget Ebby Samson, who is now teaching at Imperial College London after excelling at GIS. These inspiring alumni show just how far a solid foundation in coding can take you!
As AI continues to transform the future, learning to code is more critical than ever. Coding teaches students how AI works, how to train it, and how to debug it when things go wrong. Fun fact: when students were given the option to use AI for coding assistance, 15% turned it off because it made too many mistakes! Understanding the nuts and bolts of coding gives our students a significant edge in the fast-growing world of AI.
At GIS, we’re incredibly proud of our students’ achievements in coding and beyond. With alumni like Isaac, Su Mae, and Ebby blazing the trail, the future looks bright for our next generation of tech leaders! Here’s to cracking more codes and leading the way in the digital world.
Interested in discovering more about our innovative learning environment and curriculum? Our friendly admissions team is here to help with any enquiries you might have. Submit your application today and take the first step toward an enriching educational journey for your child!
By James Abela, Director of Digital Learning and Entrepreneurship – MA Dip (M) PGCE BA (Hons)
