Next Generation Digital Manufacturing and Robotics Schools

<< Background >>We applied for this project to address the growing need to make STEM education more engaging, accessible, and relevant for young people. Although robotics and digital manufacturing are increasingly important for Europe’s future workforce, many schools and teachers (especially in Malta) lack the tools, training, and practical materials to introduce these subjects in an inspiring way.We addressed following needs:1. Innovative learning opportunities through summer and winter camps in Estonia and Malta, where students could gain their first hands-on experience with robotics, coding, and teamwork in a supportive environment.2. Teachers’ need for structured resources to integrate robotics and digital manufacturing into their teaching by supporting them with a clear and practical handbook on how to organize robotics camps, including didactic guidelines, competition rules, and evaluation methods.3. Promoting STEM careers by giving young people positive first experiences with robotics. Camps were designed for students with little or no prior experience, to ensure inclusivity.4. Developing transferable skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, planning, and communication, which are essential for both education and future careers.<< Objectives >>The main objective of the DIGIROBO project was to develop and test a practical and replicable concept for robotics summer and winter camps in digital manufacturing and robotics that could later be transferred to schools across Europe.Our main goals were:To design and deliver pilot camps that combine robotics, coding, and teamwork in a motivating, hands-on environment for students aged 10–16, including those with little or no prior experience.To develop a comprehensive handbook for teachers and organizers, providing step-by-step guidance, competition rules, didactic approaches, and evaluation methods for running similar camps in the future.To promote STEM learning and transferable skills such as teamwork, creativity, problem-solving, and communication, ensuring that participants not only learn technical skills but also develop competences needed for their personal and professional growth.To increase motivation and interest in STEM careers among students and provide teachers with resources to integrate robotics and digital manufacturing into their practice.<< Implementation >>The DIGIROBO project was carried out through six main activities. Project management was coordinated by a board including Tartu University, NPO Robootika, and NIN3 Group, with regular meetings to ensure quality and smooth cooperation. Methodology development created a didactic framework, competition rules, and evaluation tools, using project-based and blended learning approaches.Three pilot camps were organized: two in Malta (July 2024, 64 participants aged 9–14) and one in Estonia (August 2024, 31 participants aged 10–16, including teachers). Each 3-day camp combined robot building, coding, teamwork, industrial robotics task or demonstrations, and a final challenge.A comprehensive Handbook was produced, offering step-by-step guidance, agendas, safety rules, evaluation templates, and annexed LEGO lesson plans and consent forms. Feedback was collected through surveys, showing very high satisfaction (Malta avg. 4.8/5, Estonia 4.6/5). Participants valued teamwork, hands-on activities, and use of real robotics equipment, suggesting more challenges and longer camps in the future.Finally, dissemination included social, website, partner websites, school networks, podcast and media coverage. Website - https://www.digirobocamp.com/<< Results >>Main outputs:Three pilot camps successfully implemented: two in Malta (summer and winter 2024–25, >60 participants) and one in Estonia (August 2024, >30 participants including students and mentor teachers).DIGIROBO Summer Camp Handbook produced and published, providing step-by-step guidelines, competition rules, field design, team formation strategies, safety requirements, and evaluation templates. Supporting annexes included LEGO lesson plans, sample consent forms, and feedback surveys.Evaluation tools and feedback data collected, showing high participant satisfaction (average 4.8/5 in Malta and 4.6/5 in Estonia).