CCS Runs Train the Trainer Robotics Seminars

The Cyprus Computer Society in collaboration with the University of Cyprus and the IET Cyprus Local Network organised a Train the Trainer seminar on the CCS robotics competitions.

The seminars included a presentation of the Minoan Robotics Competition by Hellenic Educational Robotics Organisation from Greece introducing the new sport-type competitions that will be available to teams at the next Robotex Cyprus 2024. The competitions were demonstrated on regular tracks and the participating coaches were able to do the competitions with the available robots. 

The second session presented information about the new FIRST® LEGO® LEAGUE competition and the training materials available for coaches to use to prepare their teams. The FLL Cyprus will take place in April 2024

Code4Rural Project

The project Code4Rural aims to strengthen digital skills in rural areas in both the Greek Cypriot (G/C) and Turkish Cypriot (T/C) communities, with a focus on promoting new and improved learning methods.

Although we live in an age of technology, we often encounter digital illiteracy in Cyprus. To combat it, we need to familiarise young G/C and T/C children and adolescents, who live mainly in rural areas, with Robotics, coding, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) education and other 21st century skills.

In December, Code4Rural was named “Project of the Month” by the funding organisation, further raising visibility.

On 21 January, the final event of the project took place at the Home for Cooperation in Nicosia to celebrate the success of Code4Rural and the digital empowerment of our communities.

By providing students with the digital skills needed through interactive activities, they will be able to advocate for their needs and become more active citizens in the future. Through the organisation of multiplier and bicommunal events and the establishment of a “Projects Fair” the students will interact and join forces for the future.

For more information, visit: https://code4rural.eu/en

Completion of the Femme Forward – Future Tech Careers program

CCS proudly announces the completion of the Femme Forward – Future Tech Careers program. Within the scope of the European co-funded project, Femme Forward, which runs in 11 European countries, coordinated in Cyprus by CCS, 10 women with no or limited IT background have been re-trained and achieved the AWS Re/start Graduate badge.

The graduates have gained new skills through the 12-week full time AWS re/Start program (Linux Fundamentals, Networking Fundamentals, Security Fundamentals, Python Programming Databases Fundamentals and AWScloud fundamentals).

The program started on 2nd October and finished on 22 December 2023. The participants were connected with potential employers’ trough an event co-organised by CCS and AWS Cyprus User Group. 

The AWS re/Start Graduates were also prepared to pursue AWS Cloud Practitioner certifications! 

Three women have already achieved the certification, the rest have planned their certification exam by end of January 2024! 

All graduates are now ready to pursue entry-level cloud roles in operations, site reliability and infrastructure support. In these positions they can use Python scripts, support Linux operating systems, operate network infrastructures, deploy basic AWS core services, and carry out initial troubleshooting.

Good luck with your tech career AWS re/Start Graduates!

Read more about the project on: https://femmeforward.eu

Eramsus+ Project InClass: Telepresence Robots in the Classroom

The Erasmus+ Project InClass aimed to help children with health issues attend and integrate into their classrooms by means of telepresence robots. Specifically, it studied:

  • The resistances and obstacles there may be for teachers, principals, parents, children at school level;
  • How the robot is perceived by kids in the classroom, what problems may arise, what benefits there may be, what practices and workarounds emerge and turn out useful, as well as how the kids (in quarantine, in hospital etc.) perceive the situation;
  • How telepresence robots can be developed in order to support their use in schools; and
  • How telepresence robots can be used to support intercultural exchange.

From 14-15 December 2023, the InClass project concluded with its Final International Conference and Project meeting held in Naples, Italy.  Read more on: https://www.sdu.dk/en/inclass 

Erasmus+ Project CybARverse Newsletter and award

The second project newsletter has been released and provides information about the project and the upcoming CybARverse academis to be established in Cyprus, Lithuania, Malta and Romania. The CybARverse Academies will be established with a goal to improve digital skills among VET teachers and trainers in the field of cybersecurity.

The project received the award in the category “Strongest Start” during annual Quality Award Ceremony for Erasmus+ and Nordplus international education projects organised by the Lithuanian National Agency “Education Exchanges Support Foundation” promoting inclusion, ecological thinking and digital skills.

Read the full newsletter on https://www.cybarverse.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Newsletter-2-1.pdf and more about the project on: https://www.cybarverse.eu/