Enlightening Young Minds: Inside Critical’s Summer Camp 2024

This year, the programme welcomed 40 students studying STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) subjects from across Portugal, offering them invaluable real-world experience in software and engineering services. 

Sara Brás, Talent Manager at Critical Software, highlighted the programme's expanded capacity this year due to its past success and the overwhelmingly positive feedback from previous participants. She commented: "We were thrilled to accommodate even more students this year, aiming to welcome at least 40 participants. Real-world experience is crucial for young people. It allows them to grow, acquire new skills, and truly understand what it’s like to work in software development. For Critical Software, this was also an excellent opportunity to integrate new perspectives and ideas, enriching our teams and projects." 

The Summer Camp has been divided into two phases. The first phase, the Innovation Experience, took place in Coimbra from 8th-12th July. Across five days, participants worked with Critical Software teams on prototypes in areas such as Robotics, Internet of Things, and Artificial Intelligence. 

Throughout the event, we caught up with some of the students to get their take on the programme. Here’s what they had to share! 

How did the summer camp change the way you think about technology and innovation? 

João Diogo, a Computer Engineering finalist at University of Coimbra, states that “at Critical Software, projects aren't just about mastering predefined skills; they're real-life challenges where we have the freedom to choose our approaches and technologies. This allows us to innovate and apply our learning in practical ways, making each project a meaningful experience.” 

Catarina Caldeira, a Biomedical Engineering student at University of Coimbra, emphasised that “one of the most memorable aspects of the experience was working with AI, which was entirely new to me. With the guidance of our mentor, implementing AI proved to be easy to manage and incredibly enriching.” 

Can you share a moment from the camp that really stood out to you? 

João Cascais, a Computer Engineering student at University of Coimbra, shares that “the bonds we form with people here are unlike any I've seen before. Even the friendships we build with colleagues are exceptionally warm and friendly, far beyond what I expected.”

What was the most surprising thing you learned about working in a tech company? 

Axel Chanbrerie, a Programming Student at 42 Porto, feels that getting familiar with technology that he has never worked before and getting it to work in two days was “fascinating.” 

To Manoela Americo, an Informatics and Computing Engineering student at University of Porto, having the opportunity to implement the project “was a lot of fun, and despite the short timeframe, it ranks among the most enjoyable experiences I've had in a tech company.” 

What’s Next on Summer Camp 

As the first phase of Critical Software’s Summer Camp wraps up, the excitement continues to build for what’s next! This programme not only offers young minds a unique glimpse into the world of tech, but also empowers them with the skills and confidence to enhance their future careers.  

Stay tuned for more updates from the camp and discover how these future innovators will continue to shape the tech landscape.  

Interested in taking part next year? Keep your eyes peeled for more news! In the meantime, take a look at our recap video.