Conference Agenda

Robótica al Parque is an engineering outreach strategy led by the UTBot student research group at Universidad Tecnológica de Bolívar, aimed at high school students. Its name reflects a central decision of the initiative: it takes place in a park, that is, in a public, open, and community-based space outside the university campus. This allows engineering and robotics to go beyond university walls, bringing knowledge closer to more young people and families while turning learning into a visible, accessible, and shared experience.

The initiative is not limited to a one-time competition. It is structured as a formative process that begins with the invitation of educational institutions and continues with workshops, mentoring, and technical guidance in robot design, programming, construction, and strategy. In this way, students do not simply build a prototype; they also develop critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and teamwork through a practical engineering learning experience.

One of its distinctive features is that each team must solve several challenges using a single robot, encouraging versatile solutions and a more comprehensive understanding of the engineering design process. At the same time, UTBot members strengthen their own leadership, mentoring, and communication skills by guiding participants throughout the process.

The strategy also contributes to equity in STEM. It has supported a growing female participation and the inclusion of rural schools, expanding access to meaningful technological learning opportunities. As a pedagogical extension, it includes The Adventures of UTBotito, a series of comic-based guides designed to introduce younger students to robotics through an engaging, creative, and accessible narrative.