A donation to the University of Belize marks the start of a national effort to bring high-tech robotics equipment into classrooms across the country.
The Ministry of E-Governance handed over a VEX V5 Classroom Super Robotics Kit to support UB’s Jaguar Tech Studio. Packed with over 1,500 components, including smart motors, sensors, and structural parts, the equipment allows students to move from classroom theory into hands-on design, construction, and programming of active robotic systems.
Ministry of E-Governance CEO Jose Urbina confirmed that the Belize Robotics Federation is next to receive a unit. Institutions for the remaining three kits have not been decided, but the ministry expects to procure about five additional units to distribute to other institutions across Belize.
“Our vision is to ensure that we build capacity in equipment for the jobs of tomorrow,” Urbina said. “Our expectation is to allow students to use their innovation to create different things with the use of the robotic kits.” He also mentioned that the ministry is partnering with the Belize Robotics Federation to create training courses countrywide.
The Ministry also hopes the initiative will boost Belize’s presence at international competitions like the Robotics World Championship.
“The end result, of course, would be to see an increase of representation at the Robotics World Championship,” Urbina noted, explaining that international competitions give young Belizeans valuable exposure to teamwork, collaboration, and advanced engineering techniques.
Urbina hopes to create a national movement around technology, urging any other interested institutions to engage and participate through the Robotics Federation to obtain a kit and help drive the initiative forward.
