EXCELSIOR Community College (ECC) has opened its first robotics centre with an aim to prepare students to take on the technologically changing world.

The ECC, which, in February, became the first community college to receive institutional accreditation by The University Council of Jamaica, celebrated on Thursday as it launched its science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) robotics centre at its Eureka Campus.

The centre will have 30 laptops provided by e-Learning Jamaica Limited.

Dean of the Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences at the ECC Mark Shand explained that the main purpose of the centre is to improve students’ ability to develop and learn new skills related to robotic developments.

“A STEM robotics lab will serve multiple educational and developmental purposes. It should provide students with practical hands-on experience in designing, building and programming robots, reinforcing theoretical concepts learned in the classroom. It will integrate STEM disciplines [while] helping students understand how these fields interconnect and apply to real-word problems,” he said.

According to Shand, the robotics centre will also encourage creativity and innovation, allowing students to experiment with different designs and technologies to develop unique robotic solutions.

He said more students will be encouraged to experiment with engineering practices and it will provide more opportunities for them to showcase their skills at the national, regional and international level.

“By exposing these students to robotics and related technologies, the lab can spark interest in STEM careers and provide a pathway to further education and professional opportunities in these fields,” said Shand.

He pointed out that the community college’s career and placement unit will work to develop partnerships with industries to offer real-world opportunities such as internships for students to showcase their robotic skills.

In the meantime principal of the ECC Philmore McCarthy praised stakeholders for committing to an initiative that he said will improve the quality of education provided to students.

McCarthy emphasised that the implementation of a robotic centre at the school aligns with its main objective which is to give students a second chance at education.

“One of the key objectives of this lab is to provide an environment for our at-risk students. At Excelsior Community College we did a survey and we recognised that 75 per cent of the students who come to us, they are what we call first-generation students. There are students coming from homes that see them as the first to get a college experience,” said McCarthy.

Agreeing with McCarthy, CEO of e-Learning Jamaica Andrew Lee said the initiative is not just about improving education at ECC but it is a part of an islandwide plan to provide schools with the requisite technological devices to adequately prepare students for a technology driven economy.

“Our job is to ensure that the technology that we produce in our public space is used towards empowering our students and our educators to thrive in the digital age. For us at e-Learning, today marks another significant milestone towards our journey and of course, accomplishing our mission of increasing technology in our education system,” said Lee.

He added: “The opening of this STEM robotics centre represents a part of our efforts to provide cutting-edge technology to schools islandwide. So what we are doing here ladies and gentlemen is something that we are doing islandwide, this is not a one-off initiative.”

Lee used the opportunity to encourage Jamaicans to embrace the introduction of new robotic and technological advancements as he underscored that they are not here to cause harm but to make life easier.

Also addressing the function was Minister of Education and Youth Fayval Williams who highlighted the need to address several scientific issues such as climate change.

Williams encouraged the students to utilise the opportunity to engage with new technology and emphasised that this will allow them to create innovative solutions for the geological challenges affecting society.

“This will not only enhance the educational experience of the students at the Excelsior Community College but it will also inspire a new generation of thinkers, creators and problem-solvers who will lead Jamaica into a bright and prosperous future,” said Williams.