Course for trainers kicks off within Robotics Starts at School project

PanARMENIAN.Net - One-month course for trainers hosted in the kindergarten-school of the Mkhitar Sebastatsi educational complex was launched on July 23 in the framework of the Robotics Starts at School project.

55 trainers from the regions of Armenia will get skills of teaching robotics to children. The courses will be held by the National Instruments, Instigate and Symotech companies.

To coordinate the project, as well as to expand it and apply the accumulated knowledge in all the schools, a memorandum of understanding was signed between VivaCell-MTS, Union of Information Technology Enterprises, World Vision International charity organization Yerevan office, Chronimet charity fund, USAID Counterpart International project, National Instruments, Instigate and Symotech companies. The memorandum is open to organizations, which share the aim and are willing to join the project.

“By signing the memorandum we aim to inspire the school-aged children for an interest in the contemporary high tech and the robotics in particular, develop technical set of mind from the young age and steer more purposeful and qualified students to universities,” said UITE Executive Manager Karen Vardanyan.

“Science is an engine and the human mind is the lever that makes the engine work. We aim at giving the schoolchildren maximum opportunity to serve the science to the best of the humanity. After all, to provide a smart turn of generations both the engine and its performance need to be continuously improved. Development of technologies gives an opportunity for that. This cooperation will let us make serious steps to grow the robotics from a mere preference into an occupation,” said VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian.

The Union of Information Technology Enterprises, in cooperation with VivaCell-MTS, Chronimet charity fund, World Vision Armenia and Counterpart International Armenia, has initiated creation of robotics groups in 55 schools across Armenia. The lessons at schools will kick off in September 2013. The trainers will have robots designed and provided by the union as a teaching aid.

At the moment robotics classes are organized at the Ayb school, Qvant and Politechic colleges in Yerevan. Classes are organized also in Lori (Akhtala), Syunik (Sisian, Kapan), Shirak (Gyumri) and Aragatsotn (Talin).