SMU Takes OLGC Students To Robotics Competition in Germany

BUEA, Cameroon - Dec. 11, 2015 - PRLog -- Saint Monica University (SMU): The American International University today announced that a team of students from Our Lady of Grace College (OLGC), Muyuka, Cameroon, have taken part in the Regional First Lego League (FLL) in Brandenburg, Germany. The Our Lady of Grace College students joined students from Mendel School in East Berlin to form the MendelBots team that took second place in the robotics competition on waste management in Germany. The event is part of an international robot competition for kids between the ages ten and sixteen.

FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL) is a program that supports children and youngsters in order to introduce them to science and technology in a sporty atmosphere. “We got involved in this program because of its noble objectives of making children and youngsters enthusiastic about science and technology; equipping the participants with the idea of team spirit; and encouraging children and youngsters to solve complex tasks in a creative way,” said Rev. Fr. Edwin Msing Seh, Principal of OLGC Muyuka. “We’re very grateful to President Asongu of Saint Monica University, Buea, for bringing this opportunity to our students and we are positive that our students have benefited significantly from participation in the competition.”

Cameroon delegation to the Regional FLL in Brandenburg comprised of eight persons – Six students of Our Lady of Grace College, Muyuka (Guilian Tebo Endam, Rawlins Soh Tamanji, Solange Zhia Seh, Denvil Mesue Ngoh, Evodia Mandela Endam, and Samuel Ebot Manyienow); the Principal of OLGC (Rev. Fr. Edwin Msing Seh); and the Associate Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Saint Monica University (Mr. Elvis A. Akomoneh). The trip was conceived in Summer 2015 during a visit of the President of SMU to the University of Applied Sciences, Brandenburg, Germany. It was made possible by the combined efforts and sponsorship of Prof. Dr. Med. Thomas Schrader and his university (the University of Applied Sciences, Brandenburg), some parents of the Mendel School in Berlin, officials of OLGC Muyuka and SMU Buea, and the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Buea.

“Saint Monica University has invested over 1 million Francs to make this trip possible and we see it as part of the University’s social responsibility,” said Professor Januarius Jingwa (JJ) Asongu, President and Chief Executive Officer of SMU. “SMU’s commitment to social responsibility is unquestionable and we’re excited to sponsor Our Lady of Grace College students for this competition on waste management. We have been internationally recognized as one of the few African universities with one of the most unique and innovative programs in university-community engagement.”

“We’re highly indebted to Prof. Dr. Med. Thomas Schrader of the University of Applied Sciences, Brandenburg, for ensuring the success of this visit and serving as Coach of the MendelBolt Team comprising of students from Cameroon and Germany,” said Mr. Akomoneh who is leading the Cameroonian delegation. “Our German hosts have been very gracious and generous; we’re indebted to them. We are also grateful to the six students of Our Lady of Grace College in Muyuka and their parents, as well as the administrators of the College and those of SMU for making it possible. These stakeholders have sacrificed a lot and we are very grateful.”

The basis of FLL is a robotics tournament in a cheerful atmosphere, where kids and youngsters need to solve a tricky "mission" with the help of a robot. The 2015 theme was waste management and the kids researched on the topic, and were involved in the programming and testing of autonomous robot to solve the mission.

The participation of the Cameroon team has been described as “greatly significant” by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Burghilde Wieneke-Toutaoui, President of the University of Applied Sciences, Brandenburg. The team will spend about two weeks in Germany, returning to Cameroon in mid-December 2015. Apart from participating in the robotics competition, they will visit monuments in Berlin and its environs.

About Saint Monica University: The American International University

Saint Monica University (SMU) is a leading private university in Cameroon with an extensive network of over two dozen partner universities globally. It is an American-style non-profit, non-ecclesiastical Catholic institution, offering applied sciences or career-focused programs that are at the intersection of the liberal arts, science and technology. It is dedicated to providing educational opportunities for the intellectual, social, entrepreneurial and professional development of a diverse student population. SMU is focused on the student experience and helping our students achieve their educational and career goals, and contributing to a more sustainable society.  We offer various certificates and diplomas as well as bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees through the School of Arts, Education, & Humanities (SAEH); School of Business & Public Policy (SBPP); School of Health & Human Services (SHHS); and School of Science, Engineering & Technology (SSET). SMU is accredited in the United Kingdom by the Accreditation Service for International Schools, Colleges, and Universities (ASIC) with Accreditation No: AS22357/0614 and is listed on the UK Register of Learning Providers (UKRLP) with the UK Provider Reference Number (UKPRN): 10048183. SMU is also fully accredited in Cameroon by the National Commission on Private Higher Education at the Ministry of Higher Education (MINESUP) with the Ordinance of Creation No: E14/0028/MINESUP/SG/DDES and the Ministerial Letter No: 15-09643/L/MINESUP/SG/DDES/ESUP/SDA/MM authorizing SMU to offer over 60 undergraduate and graduate diploma and degree programs. SMU is a member of many international academic organizations including the UNESCO-based International Association of Universities (IAU), the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC), Global Universities In Distance Education (GUIDE), the European Distance Learning & E-Learning Network (EDEN), and the Talloires Network. For more information about SMU, visit our website: www.smuedu.org or write to us at contact@stmonicauniversity.com.