The field of educational robotics in Cyprus has seen rapid growth in recent years, according to Panikos Masouras, Secretary of the Board of the Cyprus Computer Society (CCS) and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Robotex Cyprus Robotics Competition.

This year, the competition will take place on the weekend of June 29 and 30 at the Sports Center of the University of Cyprus.

Masouras noted that the introduction of the Robotex competition in Cyprus in 2017, with its many challenges, has significantly boosted the field of educational robotics. He also highlighted that numerous teams of children from Cyprus participate in the ROBOTEX International event, competing with teams from countries with a long tradition in robotics, such as China, India, the USA, and Italy, and often achieving top positions.

The CCS organizes the 7th ROBOTEX CYPRUS based on the rules of the ROBOTEX INTERNATIONAL World Robotics Competition.

Co-organized by the University of Cyprus, the Youth Board Organisation, and the IET - Institute Engineering Technology (Cyprus Network), Robotex Cyprus will celebrate its "7th birthday" as the largest educational robotics festival in Cyprus since its establishment in 2017.

Masouras told CNA that the aims of the event are to advance the field of educational robotics, introduce robotics technology into the educational system, enhance the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) disciplines, and promote new forms of learning.

The Robotex Cyprus event is open to students and teachers from all public and private schools at all levels of education in Cyprus (Primary, Secondary, Secondary Technical & Vocational), students and teachers of private educational centers, tutorial centers, and state training institutes, students from all universities and colleges in Cyprus (both public and private), soldiers, and adults with an interest in robotic technology.

The official language of the event is Greek, but teams from private schools where English is the language of instruction are welcome to participate. For their convenience, the rules of the various challenges have also been prepared in English.

Asked about the field of educational robotics in Cyprus, Masouras told CNA that it has grown rapidly in recent years. He expressed the view that the introduction of the Robotex competition in Cyprus in 2017, with its variety of challenges, has provided significant impetus to the field of educational robotics. It has allowed children of all ages, students, parents, and adults to engage with the subject in a structured and organized manner on a wider scale.

This is evident, he added, from the massive participation in the competition and the large number of public and private educational organizations that have introduced robotics as part of their activities and services.

He added that there are currently more than 250 teachers and trainers at all levels engaged in the sector in Cyprus.

"A few years ago, they could be counted on the fingers of one hand," he said.

The upgrading of the field is not only quantitative but also qualitative, he explained. Many teams from Cyprus participate in the ROBOTEX International event, successfully competing with teams from countries with a long tradition in robotics, such as China, India, the USA, and Italy, and often securing top positions.

Despite these successes, he said, efforts continue in cooperation with other agencies to further upgrade the sector. He also referred to a series of other actions that utilize robotics for implementing interdisciplinary projects within the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) model in education.