The grand opening of the large-scale educational festival — Robotics and Innovative Educational Technologies Days — was held today at the Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre (RGSC). The event is organized by SODRUZHESTVO Joint Venture LLC with the support of Rossotrudnichestvo (Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation), Russian Embassy in Mauritius, and our partners — 1T LLC, an IT Company, Saint Petersburg State Marine Technical University, and N. I. Vavilov Saratov State University of Genetics, Biotechnology, and Engineering.

Distinguished guests attended the opening ceremony, including Dr Kaviraj Sharma Sukon, Minister of Tertiary Education, Science and Research; Irada Zeynalova, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Mauritius; and directors of leading educational institutions in the city.

Dr Aman Kumar Maulloo, Director of the Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre, addressed the guests, expressing his gratitude to the event organizers and highlighting the Centre’s eagerness to collaborate with Russian IT companies. He stated: “We are committed to giving young people access to cutting-edge knowledge. We’re grateful to our Russian colleagues for organizing this unique event, which, I am confident, will pave the way for new opportunities for collaboration.

The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Research, Kaviraj Sharma Sukon, highlighted the timeliness and relevance of the event:

“The world of robotics is developing at an incredibly rapid pace. This reminds me of the words of Rabindranath Tagore, who said: ‘Do not teach students what you know. Teach them what they should know.’ Because they live in a different era from ours. And that is why we must teach them what they will need in the future. We are therefore very pleased that today, in the era of AI and robotics, we are hosting this seminar.”

The festival, running through November 19, is open to students, schoolchildren, educators, and anyone interested in Russian education. Festival guests can enjoy three exciting days, featuring a robotics exhibition, hands-on workshops on building robots, developing computer games, and designing VR environments, gaming tournaments, a tech-themed quiz, and career guidance sessions. Six Russian experts will be interacting directly with participants, sharing their knowledge and experience throughout the event.

“We’re proud to showcase Russian educational innovations here in Mauritius. This festival is a bridge between our cultures and education systems. We want to show young people that Russia is a global leader in IT and engineering, and we’re eager to share our expertise,” said Natalia Shadrina, Deputy Project Director at SODRUZHESTVO Joint Venture LLC, during the opening ceremony.

The special role of advanced technologies and education was emphasized by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Mauritius, Irada Zeynalova:

“Mauritius is a country where, according to global studies, the level of student preparation is among the highest on the African continent. The average IQ of students is one of the highest, and the quality of education is among the best in Africa. This is why we have the opportunity not only to be present here, but also to inspire these educated, talented and—if I may say—warm-hearted and energetic students, engaging them in cutting-edge scientific solutions and research. Let us hope that together we will take yet another, perhaps small but important, step forward for all humankind—one that will benefit the people of this planet.”

All festival events are free to attend. The full program and registration details are available on the official website: vr-tzmu.ru

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Highlights of the event: https://disk.yandex.com.am/d/zElZHMN71YgqkA