More than 100 science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) teachers from schools across Qatar were honoured at an awards ceremony at the College of the North Atlantic - Qatar (CNA-Q).
The ceremony recognised the efforts of teachers from around the country after completing 30 hours of intensive training and instruction in the use of robotics programming for classroom settings. Each of the teachers had successfully participated in 10 three-hour training sessions delivered at CNA-Q as part of Maersk Oil Qatar’s Skills in School GO ROBOT programme.
The study and use of robotics kits by high school students has been shown to improve problem solving and creativity and team working skills in students. The positive impact of robotics programming in supporting the delivery of STEM subjects has also been recognised by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.
Robotics has been included in curricula at Independent Schools in Qatar, with students now required to participate in one hour of robotics programming  
instruction each week.
Dr Fawzi al-Ajji, education relations manager at Maersk Oil Qatar, said: “The Skills in Schools GO ROBOT programme clearly demonstrates how robotics can help students develop the skills that will set them on a pathway to success. The programme is the ideal example of what can be achieved by balancing support for teachers’ professional development with efforts to boost students’ enthusiasm for these critically important subjects.”
Dr Theodore Chiasson, dean of the School of Information Technology at CNA-Q, said: “Our programme of training and professional development has grown considerably in the five years that we’ve been running it and it is great to witness the progress of those educators who have completed it. Together they play an important role in building the enthusiasm and engagement of their students with STEM subjects, encouraging more students
to pursue STEM careers.”
The training in robotics programming is one of the core elements of the Skills in Schools robotics programme, GO ROBOT, which was established in 2012 by Maersk Oil Qatar in partnership with CNA-Q. The Skills in Schools GO ROBOT programme reaches more than 10,000 students and 1,000 teachers in Qatar each year. In addition, more than 1,200 robotics kits have been distributed for free to over 250 schools across the country as part of the development programme.