Fomenting STEM Careers through Robotics Competitions: A Work in Progress

Abstract

U.S and Guatemala have a shortage of engineers to be hired. Universities are not preparing enough students that choose scientific, technologic, engineering or mathematical areas (STEM) as their professional career. Creating outreach programs from the universities that can make high school students have an engineering experience while having fun in a STEM competition can reaffirm their decision to continue a pathway through a STEM career. Our proposal of outreach program has shown that the participation of students in international and national robotics competitions can assure up to 75% of those students to decide for their professional occupation on a STEM career.