Approximately 1,700 students, ranging in age from 12 to 67, came together at the University of Lisbon's IST School of Technology to attempt to set a new Guinness World Record for the largest computer programming lesson held in a single location on Saturday,reports Khaleej Times.
The previous record grouped 724 participants in Dallas, in the United States, on Oct. 31, 2016.
Guinness World Records Adjudicator Paulina Sapinska stated, "The final total was counted on how many people were here and 1,668 participants were achieved."
The event's organizers aimed to highlight Portugal as an emerging hub for information technology and to promote interest in computing.
IST chief Rogerio Colaco said computing literacy these days was the same as the ability to read and write 100 years ago, adding this meant "everyone must know a little bit about computer science, about programming, to live in the present world".
Bd-pratidin English/Afia
