Hungarian team achieved an outstanding result at the international robotics competition
The Hungarian team, composed of students from the Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC), achieved an outstanding result at this year’s FIRST Global Challenge international robotics competition. Held in Panama, Hungary secured 4th place among 195 participating countries worldwide. The students were prepared by the mentors of the Robotics Infinity.
Talented people solve global problems at international robotics competition
MCC announced on Monday to MTI that the FIRST Global Challenge is an Olympic-style international robotics competition, held annually in a different country. The robots built and programmed by the teams take part in challenges designed around the planet’s most pressing issues. Competitors work together on these tasks, promoting collaboration and learning.
The goal is for young people around the world to learn from each other, work together, and apply their talents to solving global problems.
- Hungarian students won the Olympic Games of robotics
During the competition, the Hungarian team played 12 matches, cooperating with a total of 60 nations. MCC students successfully partnered with teams from Nicaragua, the United States, the Comoros Islands, South Korea, and Gambia, devising strategies together, sharing parts, and assisting one another in building and repairing robots.
Hungarians team 4th best of the world
Thanks to their excellent performance, the Hungarian team reached the playoffs where they competed against the strongest nations, including host Panama. Ultimately, by collaborating with the teams from San Marino, the Solomon Islands, and the Netherlands, they achieved an impressive fourth place.
This achievement highlights not only the students’ professional skills but also their ability to thrive in international cooperation.
- Hungary’s first learning robot was built in 1957—and looked like a ladybug!
The team consisted of Dorka Buzai (Békéscsaba), Botond Dékány (Szeged), Balázs Tóth (Debrecen), Timót Pecsenyánszky (Budapest), and Zsombor Nagy (Dunaszerdahely), all students in the MCC High School Programme. The students were prepared by the mentors of the Robotics Infinity.
MCC constantly developing
Next year marks the 30th anniversary of MCC, which operates across 31 locations and has trained over 8,000 students, making it the Carpathian Basin’s leading talent development institution. Its High School Programme has been successfully running for more than twenty years, with applications from high school students open until 31 December this year.
The Hungarian team:
In Hungary, the High School Programme is available in the capital and 16 other towns, such as Debrecen, Kaposvár, Miskolc, Pécs, Szeged, Szombathely, and Zalaegerszeg.
Since 2013, the programme has expanded to Transylvania, then from 2022 to Carpathian Ruthenia, in 2023 to Upper Hungary, and from 2024 also to the Vojvodina region, with more than 1,200 Hungarian students from beyond the borders participating.
- Hungary joins the robotics revolution: The Unitree G1 is now available!
Useful courses, languages, competitions
The programme offers free, extracurricular training for talented students. Participants receive individual mentoring, can join community-building events, professional workshops, KP Saturdays, and club afternoons.
Students can complete useful e-learning courses, and the most active have opportunities to further develop their talents through language education, international study trips, competitions, and camps.
Applicants must be current high school students who have not yet started their 12th grade. The online application requires a CV and motivation letter, along with academic and competition records. The admission process consists of a written test and an oral interview.