Armenian Robotics Education Program Opens 18th International Workshop in Iraqi Kurdistan

An Armenian engineering education program that teaches thousands of schoolchildren to code and build robots has opened a new workshop in Iraqi Kurdistan, bringing its hands-on technology training to teenagers in the city of Ranya.

The facility is the 18th international workshop established under Armenia’s Armath program, which has grown into a nationwide network of free engineering classes for public school students.

The project was developed by Armenia’s Union of Advanced Technology Enterprises (UATE) in partnership with the Raparin Regional Development Agency, with support from the Armenian Consulate General in Erbil.

Kurdistan Regional Government Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani attended the opening alongside Armenia’s Ambassador to Iraq Ruben Sogoyan, Acting Consul General Rafael Movsesyan and Armath program director Sedrak Vardanyan.

Before the workshop opened, Armenian instructor Armen Mkhoyan spent a week training local teachers in programming and robotics. The sessions included both theoretical lessons and practical exercises to prepare instructors to run the program.

UATE Executive Director Edita Ghazaryan said the expansion shows that Armenia’s approach to technology education is attracting interest beyond the country.

“Our goal is to create a new generation that not only uses modern technologies but also develops them,” Ghazaryan said.

Armath was developed in Armenia to give children practical experience in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Its workshops introduce students to coding, robotics and engineering, helping them develop technical skills from an early age.

The program currently operates about 642 workshops in Armenian public schools, where approximately 17,000 students receive free training. It is supported by Armenia’s Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports.

The Ranya workshop brings that same model to Iraqi Kurdistan, with locally trained instructors teaching a curriculum developed in Armenia.

—

Support independent reporting from the region by subscribing to The Armenian Report. Our team is funded solely by readers like you.