SMC is partnering with VEX Robotics for a nationwide event

VEX Robotics Australian State Championship tournaments are held across Adelaide, Sydney and Victoria for in-person events and an online live remote tournament. Adelaide will be the first to start here in Australia on March 6th. The new format is set to accommodate Covid-19 and limit travel and numbers as Australia launches its vaccine, and give all participating VEX Robotics teams an equal chance to qualify for VEX Worlds and have the best event experience possible. The competition will bring the STEM skills back to life in children ages 3 to 12.

The Adelaide event begins at the Adelaide Convention Center. Doors open to the public from 8 a.m. and feature on-site STEM interactive exhibits for visitors to enjoy. Students, families and all participants will have the opportunity to see the various avenues and opportunities available to them in the world of STEM beyond school-age robotics.

In New Zealand, Kiwibots (The New Zealand Robotics Charitable Trust), in collaboration with the REC Foundation, VEX Robotics and Auckland Unlimited, will present the national championships of the New Zealand VEX Robotics Competition (VRC) 2021. The date of this special event is yet to be confirmed as per New Zealand lockdown regulations.

Care for bright minds

According to Nicole Champagne, Sales Director for VEX Robotics, AU & NZ, the company envisions a world where every student can be inspired by the excitement of hands-on, hands-on STEM learning and the feeling of making something with technology.

“Students benefit from hands-on STEM experience and we love bringing this to life with competitive robotics. They will learn the key skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) that will provide them with problem-solving skills for our future workforce. We're passionate about VEX Robotics in the classroom, but we know the best opportunity to learn soft skills like collaboration, communication, time management, problem solving, iteration, and developing the computational thinking that comes from competitive robotics. "

Janet Van, National Manager of Kiwibots New Zealand, says, “For many of these students, their future careers may not even exist. Programs and competitions like this ensure we future proof all young children / Tamariki with the skills that mean they are prepared for the technological world that awaits them. "

She believes it is important that these programs are accessible to children of all backgrounds and ages so that our future employees are not only prepared with the right skills, but also better reflect the societies they serve.

SMC Corporation plays a role

SMC Corporation Australia New Zealand recognizes the importance of STEM in today's landscape and will once again come on board as the proud judge and sponsor at this year's event.

“SMC has worked with VEX in the past and we are still impressed by their work. You promote and engage with students who will create great added value in our field in the coming years. We are delighted to be part of the jury at this prestigious event, ”said Shyam Suresh, Branch Manager of SMC New Zealand.

"Our industry needs aspiring STEM graduates more than ever, and SMC is here to pave the way for aspiring engineers in New Zealand and Australia."

More about the national VEX Robotics tournament

VEX is an internationally recognized, unique robotics competition. These competitions provide students with an opportunity to develop and showcase industry-relevant skills, including construction design, teamwork, trial and error, hands-on prototyping, and digital and technical knowledge.

The competition is more than just a "battle for your mind". It rewards adaptability, resilience and sportiness as well as technical skills. The competition celebrates STEM education and exposes students to future employment opportunities.

Regarding competition mechanics, students will team up to program, design and build a robot to collectively collect points in the VEX IQ competition and to compete with one alliance against another alliance in our VEX Robotics competition. The winners will then take part in VEX Worlds. This year we will be leveraging a Live Remote Tournament platform that will allow the best robot teams around the world to compete together in May 2021. The final dates have yet to be confirmed.

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