To further advance modernization in higher education, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) stressed the significance of supporting Quezon City University (QCU) as it prepares to join a global robotics competition.

The QCU team won the Philippine VEX Robotics National Championship in December last year and will represent the Philippines in the VEX World Robotics Championship to be held at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, Texas in the United States in May.

CHED Chairperson J. Prospero de Vera III said this complies with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.s directive to empower and boost student capacity in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

“Hence, the commission is actively supporting universities to modernize their equipment and facilities to create an environment where students can innovate and engage in S&T,” he said in a statement late Monday.

In particular, the QCU secured the national spot with robots designed and programmed for VEX skill challenges that include “rapid relays and high stakes, and design challenges.”

De Vera called QCUs performance a testament to the efforts of the government to support students nationwide.

“The groundbreaking success of students of QCU, a local university, is proof of our strong commitment to supporting the academic development and growth of LUCs across the country,” he added.

Benchmarking robotics

QCU president Theresita Atienza, meanwhile, opened doors for other universities to explore QCUs best practices in robotics.

“Through the support of CHED and UniFAST (Unified Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education), we have provided our students with an enabling environment through the modernization of equipment and upgrading of facilities. Our robotics laboratory is open for use and benchmarking of other universities,” she said.

The QCUs robotics team members, likewise, thanked the commission for the support and financial assistance it has provided.

In support and recognition of their innovative passion, CHED granted financial assistance to four students through the Tulong Dunong Program, while two others received the Tertiary Education Subsidy Program, alongside Academic Excellence Award medals and certificates.

“Maraming salamat, CHED, UniFAST, at QCU sa award na ito (Thank you so much CHED, UniFAST, and QCU for this award). I encourage other students who have passion for science and technology to pursue their dreams and engage in activities like robotics competitions,” team member John Daniel Cimanes said.

“Taos puso po kaming nagpapasalamat sa CHED-UniFAST sa binigay nilang financial assistance. Dahil po dito mas gagaan ang aming pag-aaral at mas mapapabuti ang aming skills sa robotics (Our heartfelt thanks to the CHED-UniFAST for their financial assistance. Because of this, our studies will be much lighter and we can better improve our skills in robotics),” fellow team member Enerjhun Relon said.

The QCU team will set foot in the global arena to compete against more than 100 universities abroad under the VEX University Category.

The VEX Robotics World Championship, considered one of the most prestigious global robotics competitions, is recognized as the largest robotics competition in the world by the Guinness World Records.

It aims to boost participants interest in STEM, leading them to be future innovators and pursue STEM-related careers.