Lusail: The 17th School Robotic Competition, organized by the Ministry of Sports and Youth, represented by Qatar Scientific Club (QSC), in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, kicked off Sunday at the Lusail Multipurpose Hall.
According to Qatar News Agency, the three-day championship saw significant improvements in organization and a notable increase in participants, with over 2,200 students divided into more than 800 teams from 227 public and private schools. This reflects the organizers’ commitment to hosting an exceptional championship, aiming to present a distinctive version by introducing new updates in both organization and competitions.
The 2025 edition includes main competitions such as the Open Robotics Competition, Robot Arm Competition, FLL Competition, Explore Competition, Discovery Competition, Ball Collecting Competition, Line Tracing Competition, Submarine Challenge, Drone Competition, Sumo Competition, and Football Competition. These competitions are either internationally or regionally recognized, or are local competitions with specific participation criteria for all educational levels.
HE Undersecretary of the Ministry of Sports and Youth, Yasser bin Abdullah Al Jamal, emphasized the ministry’s commitment to supporting events that empower students in modern science and technology fields, aligning with Qatar’s Vision 2030. He praised the outstanding level demonstrated by students during the championship and stressed Qatar’s significant interest in developing youth skills in science and technology.
Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Affairs, Maha Zayed Qaqaa Al Ruwaili, stated that the School Robotic Championship is one of the leading educational events that embodies the Ministry of Education and Higher Education’s vision to develop students’ skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). It provides a platform for enhancing critical and creative thinking, fostering teamwork and leadership, and stimulating innovation.
Executive Director of the Qatar Scientific Club and Chairman of the Championship’s High Organizing Committee, Eng. Rashid Al Rahimi, described the championship as a milestone in the journey of challenge and determination to achieve the best for students and Qatar’s future. He pointed out that robotics technology has become a part of daily life, making such championships foundational for a generation capable of competing and prepared for future jobs.
In special remarks for Qatar News Agency (QNA), HE Managing Director of QSC and chairman of the operations committee of the Schools Robotic Championship, Sheikh Ali bin Salman Al-Thani, highlighted the addition of the submarine robot competition, allocated to high school students only, as a new feature of the championship. This competition aims to keep pace with the modern era and allows students to experience engineering challenges in the real world.
Eman Al Obaidi, Head of Public Relations and Communications at QSC, noted that this edition targeted students from different educational levels, describing it as a roadmap for creating a capable generation armed with information technology. The championship is witnessing a set of strategic partnerships, especially with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, to support students by providing all necessary preparations.
Mohammed Al Tamimi, member of the Higher Organizing Committee, emphasized that the championship is witnessing a qualitative leap, with the current edition reaching its highest participation in the history of the championship. An increase in the number of participating schools prompted QSC to hold qualifiers to filter the numbers qualified to participate.
The first-place winner at the State of Qatar level will have the opportunity to participate in the Arab or International Robotic Championship. Additionally, a scientific exhibition for research and innovations will be organized for the youth category, including projects supervised by the QSC.
The Schools Robotic Championship seeks to be a digital and competitive scientific platform that contributes to building a generation capable of keeping pace with technological developments. This year, the tournament is witnessing an increase in the number of participants, including the integration of the disabled and people of determination category, reflecting Qatar’s commitment to integrating all groups into society.