- RetoTech has arrived for the first time in Portugal through the Endesa Foundation, which aims to expand its activities and promote technological entrepreneurship and STEM education among young people in Portugal.
- The registration period for participation in Portugal (Lisbon district) in the first edition of the RetoTech programme began on 11 December and will be open until 18 January 2024 on the Endesa Foundation website.
- In this first edition, up to 30 schools from the Lisbon district will be able to participate.
- The selected schools will develop a technological project based on robotics and 3D, and it will finish at the end of the school year with a festival to present the developed projects and with participation in a number of competitions.
The Endesa Foundation is launching the first edition of the RetoTech educational initiative in Portugal. It is a challenge that will promote the study of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects, innovation and technological entrepreneurship in the classroom, and undertaken with the collaboration of the educational consultant BQ Educación.
With this innovative initiative, the Endesa Foundation challenges students and teachers from the participating schools to create a project that includes robotics and 3D printing, focused on solving a real need in their environment, such as an automated recycling system for their classrooms or a device that facilitates learning for students with special needs.
As a result of the Endesa Foundation's RetoTech programme since its launch in Spain in 2016, about 57,000 students have improved their technological and STEM skills with the help of more than 3,800 teachers.
All schools in the Lisbon district interested in participating in this first edition can submit their applications until January 18, 2024. In total, 30 schools can apply.
The list of selected schools will be posted on the program's website on Jan. 22.
The teacher in charge of each school must fill in the application form and include a video of no more than 5 minutes in which students and teachers argue the reasons why they want to participate in the RetoTech program and why it will help them improve the use of technology in the classroom.
There will be an informative event on 14 December at 5pm, to explain all the details of the project and answer any questions. You can also e-mail any questions you may have to retotech@fundacionendesa.org.
You all can also see the rules for the contest here.
Awards
The Endesa Foundation will award a total of 3 prizes, which will be given to the best technological initiatives in this first edition, during an in-person event to be held at the end of the 2023-2024 school year.
This consists of the "Endesa Foundation Award", chosen by a jury of the Endesa Foundation, and two "Teachers' Awards", chosen by the teachers present at the festival. The assessment will be based on originality and creativity as well as applicability to a real need and its justification, the technical skill and the aesthetic and artistic dimension of the work done.
All participating schools will receive kits equipped with technological material so that they can start working on their projects. The teachers in each selected school will also receive educational training focused on the programme's two blocks: Robotics and 3D printing.
About the Endesa Foundation
This year, the Endesa Foundation celebrates its 25th anniversary. A quarter of a century of social work that allows us to look to the future with the challenge of continuing to progress, with a broad and conscious look at human beings and the rest of the species that surround us to build a world in which there is room for everyone.
To this end, the Endesa Foundation contributes to social development and biodiversity conservation through education, job training, culture, volunteering and urban biodiversity projects so that there is a future in which we can all live together and in balance.
For further information go to: www.fundacionendesa.org