On Saturday, May 21, 2022, Al Akhawayn University of Ifrane hosted the third edition of the Regional Robotics Olympiad organized by the Regional Academy for Education and Training of the Fez-Meknes region in partnership with the Al Akhawayn University, the Tawasul Association for the Technological Development of the Fez-Meknes Region (ATDTEC_FM), and the CITI Association of AUI.
The Regional Robotics Olympiad aims to enable pupils and students to touch the extensions and intersections between different disciplines, linking knowledge to real-world contexts and developing basic skills that rationally integrate all 21st century skills by encouraging the practice of technology among young people as a real field for the application of engineering sciences and mathematics in an integrative way in the Moroccan school.
The theme of this third edition is "ROBOT-CAMELEON. This year, the competition consisted of reproducing the behavior of the chameleon, which adapts to the conditions of its environment. This meant that the Robot-Cameleon had to change color by traveling a predefined trajectory with challenges of different natures. The competition took place on three levels: "primary," "college," and "secondary qualifying & higher level."
About 200 competitors from different institutions in the Fez-Meknes region participated with 42 teams from the primary level and 37 teams from the qualifying and higher secondary level.
The award ceremony was chaired by the director of the Regional Academy for Education and Training of the Fez-Meknes region, Mr. Mohcine Zouak, and the Vice-President of Al Akhawayn University, Dr. Christopher Taylor.
The Grand Prize was awarded to:
- Primary: Hay Amal, Taounate
- College: Zouini, Meknes
- Qualifying secondary and higher: Mansour Dahbi, Taounate
The CITI Association of AL Akhawayn University also awarded the following prizes:
Environmental Award
- Primary: Ait Maazouz, El Hajeb
- College: Ibn Al-Banna, Fez
- Qualifying and higher secondary level: Technical High School, Fez
Design Award
- Primary: Zayd Bnou Tabit, Meknes
- College: Tarik Ibn Zayad, El Hajeb
- Qualifying and higher secondary level: Technical High School, Taza
Innovation Award
- Primary: Ben Tayeb, Meknes
- College: My School, Taza
- Qualifying and higher secondary level: 18 November, Moulay Yacoub
This year's edition has seen a significant evolution in terms of both the number of participants and the quality of participation,'' said Dr. Hassan Darhmaoui, professor at the Faculty of Sciences and Engineering of Al Akhawayn University and member of the event's steering committee.