Over 300 students attend local final of VEX Robotics programme

OFFALY County Council recently hosted over 300 students and 24 teams from primary schools across the Birr Municipal District for the sixth annual Offaly VEX Robotics programme.

As jobs and employment opportunities evolve in Offaly, primary school students are at the perfect age to begin their STEAM education. STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths, and is key to unlocking a better, smarter, and more resilient future for Offaly. This programme is integrated into all primary and secondary schools in the county, allowing students to continue their STEAM education as they transition from primary to secondary school.

This type of education equips young people with essential skills that make them more employable and adaptable to the ever-evolving job market. It fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and innovation, preparing students for a wide range of careers. Offaly County Council is investing in future generations by providing them with the skills required for jobs that may not even be considered yet. Students developing their STEAM skills are more likely to invent, build, drive and innovate future technologies that can benefit their lives and communities.

The competition at the Marian Hall provides a platform for primary school children to showcase their skills in designing, building and coding robots. During the final, robots from different schools competed in robot skills and teamwork challenges, working collaboratively to score points.

Five schools from the Birr Municipal District took home awards from the final. Oxmantown National School, Birr, scooped two awards, including the Excellence Award and the Robot Skills Champion Award. Mercy Primary School, Birr, and Scoil Bhríde, Ballyboy, were joint winners of the Teamwork Champion Award. St. Rynagh's National School, Banagher, received the Design Award, while Clonlisk National School, Shinrone, won the Judges Award.

Throughout the school year, Offaly County Council support and mentor pupils and teachers in the classroom. This wouldn't be possible without the unwavering support from the schools and teachers. With their guidance, pupils manage the entire project from start to finish, acquiring invaluable technical skills in robotics, engineering, design, programming, and coding.

Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council, Cllr Audrey Hennessy Kennedy stated, “This robotics programme is invaluable to the children of Offaly. It nurtures and develops the children’s inner scientist, engineer, and designer. They question, experiment, troubleshoot, problem-solve, and most importantly, collaborate and play while engaging with STEAM learning.”

She added, “This programme sees students engage with companies that use robotics in their business, and it builds on Offaly’s strong heritage in science and engineering. Our STEAM Educational Officer, Dean Hodge, works with all our schools, and this year we have over 3,000 students competing in the VEX Robotics Competition”

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Ray Bell, Broadband/Digital Officer and STEAM innovator, commented, “Today in the Marian Hall, we had the pleasure of hosting the Birr Municipal District VEX Robotics Competition event, and what an incredible experience it was for over 300 students. The energy in the room was electric as students from 24 teams from all over the region gathered to demonstrate their robotics skills and share their knowledge with the judges. Witnessing the passion and dedication of these young minds as they designed, built, and programmed their robots, while documenting their progress in the engineering notebook, was truly inspiring. We are proud to support this initiative and provide a platform for young people to develop their skills and pursue their passions. A big thank you to the students from St Brendan's Community School who helped on the day, serving as referees and scorekeepers for each of the matches. Your support was invaluable!”

This programme teams up with businesses, schools, and the government to enhance digital education and training. This collaboration gets more people engaged and prepared for future careers.

This programme is delivered in collaboration with Munster Technological University, Local Enterprise Office Offaly, Offaly County Council Library Service, and Engineering and Information Technology Departments. Other partners include primary and post-primary schools in Offaly, Department of Rural and Community Development, Department of Education and Skills, National and EU Just Transition Fund, Offaly Local Development Company, Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board, as well as Athlone and Laois Education Centres.