Code puzzles
You get a function cut into fragments. Work out the logic, look at each piece and put them back in the order that runs.
def count_vowels(text):total = 0for ch in text.lower():if ch in "aeiou":total += 1return totalGoogle Jams.
Students and professors on one team.
A short case competition at Nazarbayev University. Students and professors work in mixed teams on one real problem and pitch their solution to a panel.
Nazarbayev University, AstanaThe next date will be announced soon.
01 / WHAT IT IS
A case competition with your professors.
Google Jams replaces the lecture format with teamwork. Students and professors sit at the same table and work on the same problem.
| A lecture | A jam |
|---|---|
| One person talks | Everyone at the table talks |
| The professor stands at the front | The professor sits on your team |
| You take notes | You build an answer |
| Graded weeks later | Pitched the same evening |
02 / HOW IT RUNS
Warm up. Solve. Pitch.
The 22 October jam ran from 18:00 to 20:00.
Try the warm-ups
Bingo
You get a card of descriptions. Walk around, talk to people, find someone who fits each one and write their name in the box.
The jury sheet
| # | Criterion | What the jury looks for | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Feasibility | Could this actually be built with what the team has? | |
| 02 | Creativity | A fresh angle on the problem, as long as it still makes sense and solves it. | |
| 03 | Process | The steps to bring it to life: planning, design, development and testing. | |
| 04 | Expenses | A rough cost broken into parts. No exact prices, just proof you thought about the budget. | |
| 05 | Scalability | Does it still work when ten times more people use it? |
03 / WHY JOIN
Two sides of one table.
FOR STUDENTS
Work next to your professors.
- Solve a real problem with professors on your team
- Meet new people during the warm-up games
- Practise pitching in front of a panel
- No finished product needed. Slides, a PDF or a demo link are enough
- Prizes for the winners, coffee for everyone
FOR PROFESSORS
Two hours. Nothing to prepare.
- We prepare the case and run the event
- Work with students outside the lecture hall and see how they solve a real problem
- Meet strong students and maybe find your next research assistant
- Guide a team and ask questions at the pitches
- Have a problem from your field that students could try? Tell us
04 / WHAT'S NEXT
See you at the next jam.
22October 2026
Nazarbayev University, Astana
COMPLETED
Google Jams
The 22 October jam is over.
NEXT DATETBA
Nazarbayev University, Astana
UPCOMING
Next jam
The next date will be announced soon. Follow our Telegram channel for updates.
t.me/gdsc_nuWHO RUNS IT
Google Jams is run by GDG on Campus Nazarbayev University, the team behind DevFest, Google Talks and NeHackathon on campus.
