The Qatari Science Club, affiliated with the Ministry of Sports and Youth, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, has announced the launch of the 17th edition of the Schools Robotics Championship, which will begin next Sunday and run for three days. This year’s edition has seen significant improvements in organization and a rise in participation, with over 2,200 students divided into 800 teams from 225 public and private schools, reflecting the organizers’ commitment to hosting an exceptional championship.
Mr. Fawaz Al-Mesfiri, Director of Youth Affairs at the Ministry of Sports and Youth, stated that the championship aims to stimulate creativity and innovation among youth by providing a competitive environment for talented individuals, helping them participate and compete in global competitions, and represent Qatar in regional and international championships. The event also seeks to promote the culture of robotics and digital technology in education and enhance participants’ problem-solving skills, contributing to the creation of a creative and innovative generation.
Mrs. Fatima Al-Mahmoud, Chairperson of the Technical and Scientific Committee of the Championship, mentioned that this year’s edition introduces a new competition — the Submarine Robot Challenge, which will provide students the opportunity to take on real engineering challenges in the depths of the sea, using ROV (remotely operated vehicle) technology. She highlighted that the support from the Ministry of Sports and Youth, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, has been crucial in providing the necessary materials and equipment for the competition to ensure fairness and competitiveness. Al-Mahmoud also pointed out that the first-place winner at the national level will have the opportunity to participate in the Arab or World Robotics Championship. In addition to the competition, a scientific exhibition for research and innovations by youth will be organized, showcasing projects overseen by the Qatari Science Club that have qualified for advanced positions, along with robotic inventions developed by the club’s team and innovators.
Through these ongoing efforts, the Schools Robotics Championship aims to be a digital scientific and competitive platform that contributes to building a generation capable of keeping up with technological advancements and enhancing Qatar’s position in the fields of artificial intelligence and robotics.
Mrs. Mariam Abdullah Al-Mahmoud, Director of Public Relations and Communications at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, emphasized that robotics is an advanced educational tool that enhances creative thinking and problem-solving skills among students, particularly in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. The Qatari Science Club is committed to presenting a distinctive version of the championship with new updates in terms of organization and competitions. This year’s edition includes 12 main competition categories, such as: Open Innovation, Robot Arm Challenge, Football and Drone Volleyball, Discovery and Explore, FLL Robotics Challenge, Line Tracking, Ball Collector, Sumo, and the newly introduced Submarine Robot competition. All competitions are globally or regionally recognized, with specific participation criteria for all educational stages.
It is worth noting that this year’s championship has seen an increase in participation, including the integration of people with disabilities and special needs, with four schools registering a total of 6 teams and 30 students, reflecting Qatar’s commitment to inclusivity, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030.
