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Robotics Competition ‘FIRST® LEGO® League ‘Challenge Round Hosted By ATLAB Kicks Off In UAE Tomorrow - UAE Today

Robotics Competition ‘FIRST® LEGO® League ‘Challenge Round Hosted By ATLAB
Kicks Off In UAE Tomorrow

The highly anticipated ‘FIRST® LEGO® League(FLL)’ Challenge round, hosted by ATLAB, a subsidiary of Centena
Group, in collaboration with its organisers, FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) and
LEGO® Education, will officially commence tomorrow. Regional competitions will be held across the Emirates
of Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi, leading up to the UAE Finals slated for February 8 and 9, 2025, at Raffles World
Academy, an Innoventures Education group school.

As a part of the event, Atlab has collaborated with leading UAE institutions such as ASCS from Bukhatir Group, Nord
Anglia International School, Royal Grammar School Guildford, Aldar Schools, and GEMS Education, to further
enhance student participation and reach.

The competition in its 9th year in the UAE, continues to inspire the nation’s young minds, encouraging them to explore
diverse facets of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through interactive and hands-on learning
experiences, enhancing students’ innovation, leadership, self-confidence, and communication capabilities.

FIRST® LEGO® League, a global robotics program for children between the ages of 4 and 16 is divided into three
specific categories. The ‘Discover’ category for those between the ages of 4 – 6 is designed to inspire early interest in
STEM through playful, team-based challenges; the ‘Explore’ category for those aged 6-10 strives to impart critical
thinking, coding and design skills through STEM-based tasks; and the ‘Challenge’ category for students aged 9 to 16,
enables participants to solve real-world problems using robotics and advanced STEM applications. Regional rounds of
the ‘Explore’ category for Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi have successfully concluded.

Nilesh Korgaonkar, CEO of ATLAB said: “FIRST® LEGO® League inspires students to think critically, collaborate
effectively, and explore their creative potential. The competition was created to empower the next generation with the
skills necessary for future success in STEM fields while equipping them with essential 21st-century skills.By
participating in FLL, students gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge educational tools that foster problem-solving
and leadership skills. To make this experience more accessible, we offer official FLL and LEGO Education kits designed
specifically for this competition which are available on our eCommerce websiteatlabshoponline.com.”

The winners of FIRST® LEGO® League UAE will proudly represent the nation at prestigious international festivals in
the USA, Australia, Norway, and various European countries. Notably, in the 2023-24 season, the FLL UAE team
earned the ‘Best Robot Performance Award’ on the global stage, winning against top teams from around the world.

The event aligns with the ‘UAE Centennial 2071’ plan, ‘Vision 2021’, and the ‘National Innovation Strategy’ aimed at
enhancing future-ready skills, as well as the goals of the ‘UAE Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031’ and the ‘UAE
Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy’. Moreover, the UAE remains committed to elevating its educational
landscape, by implementing key strategies focused on driving qualitative improvements in the educational system and
enhancing student-teacher interactions. These include trailblazing initiatives such as smart learning programs, revised
curricula with a focus on imparting math and science education in English, new teacher licensing and evaluation
systems, as well as updated codes of conduct.

The FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge,in line with these initiatives and Centena Group’s vision, aims to equip
students with essential STEM skills through practical, mentor-based programs, while promoting the integration of
robotics, AI, and EdTech in K-12 education in the UAE.

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