Doha, September 27 (QNA) - The National Robotics Olympiad (NRO) kicked off Saturday at the premises of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE) under the theme: Future of Robotics, with the participation of 160 public schools.

Running until Sept. 29, 265-plus teams are participating in this contest, which includes 750 students of both genders, as well as over 110 judges across the panels for the various competitions, underscoring the contest's prominence and critical importance, with robust backing and keen oversight from MoEHE.

The Olympiad primarily intends to inspire young minds and encourage them to stand out in the areas of robotics, information technology, and artificial intelligence, in addition to honing their skills, since students can literally get imbued with 21st-century skills such as problem-solving, creativity, innovation, and teamwork through the application of STEM methodologies.

The engaging teams strive to explore the future by showcasing robotics' potential in navigating global challenges and contributing to enhancing life quality, whether through reshaping cities or lending impetus to the expansion toward space.

This event is a national contest aimed at promoting innovation and advancing problem-solving capabilities, in addition to refining technological skills in connection with robotics and AI through a combination of challenges and competitions, such as Robo Mission, Robo Sport, and Future Innovators.

Participating in these contests are students from a variety of classes, namely public schools for boys and girls, with the intent of advancing their skills in design, logical thinking, and robotics programming, while demonstrating the spirit of cooperation and innovation among them.

This year's motto aligns with Qatar National Vision 2030, which aims to invest in young energies in achieving sustainable development and exploring innovative solutions that foster sustainability and contribute to advancing eco-friendly technologies utilizing educational robotics.

The tournament is organized under the superintendence of MoEHE's Information Technology Section, Educational Guidance Department, which undertakes the nomination of the winning teams to participate in the Saudi Arabia Open Robotics Championship and the World Robot Olympiad (WRO) in Singapore. (QNA)