From Local to Global: QCU Shines in VEX World Robotics Debut in Dallas, Texas
Electronics Engineering and Information Technology (IT) students from Quezon City University (QCU) proudly represented the Philippines at the prestigious 2025 VEX Robotics World Championship – VEX U Division, held from May 9 to 11 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, Texas, USA.
Organized annually by the Robotics Education & Competition (REC) Foundation, the VEX World Robotics Championship is the world’s largest and prestigious student robotics competition, drawing elite teams from elementary through university levels across three divisions: VEX IQ Robotics Competition (VIQRC), VEX V5 Robotics Competition (V5RC), and VEX U — the university-level category where Team QCU1 made its international debut.
Team QCU1’s participation in the 2025 VEX World Championship marks a historic milestone for QCU. Now only in its second year of joining VEX Robotics competitions, the team has rapidly advanced from national challenger to global contender.
Their road to Dallas was paved with outstanding national achievements, where Team QCU1 emerged as one of the top qualifiers among the colleges and universities in the Philippines, securing a coveted spot at the world championship through their stellar performance in the Robot Skills Challenge and recognition via the Design Award.
At the global stage, QCU1 excelled against top international teams, clinching victories in matches against schools from Indiana, Florida, and California (USA); Tamaulipas (Mexico); and Shanghai (China). These wins are a testament to the team’s resilience, adaptability, and strategic ingenuity — vital skills required in this year’s featured challenge, “High Stakes”, which tested participants’ ability to engineer robots for complex tasks under high-pressure, time-constrained scenarios.
Team QCU1 earned an impressive 15th place out of 63 international university teams in the Skills Competition, a remarkable feat for a team making its world debut. Their strong showing highlighted not only technical skill, but also their commitment to continuous learning and innovation.
Carrying Philippine pride during the international Parade of Nations, Team QCU1 showcased the university’s dedication to global excellence in engineering and technology education. The team—composed of John Daniel C. Cimanes, Prince L. Docot, Raniel Rick F. Peñas, Rencis R. Sumugat, Enerjhun Q. Relon, and Arturo D. Marte, Jr. II—was guided by mentors Engr. Ryan F. Arago and Engr. Leonard A. Catchillar, with unwavering support from University President Dr. Theresita V. Atienza.
They successfully passed all technical inspections and submitted a comprehensive engineering design notebook — complete with schematics, programming flowcharts, and iterative development logs — underscoring their deep technical knowledge and meticulous preparation.
Commissioner Desiderio R. Apag III of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) was present at the championship, expressing strong support for the QCU Robotics Team and their accomplishments. Commissioner Apag shared his vision to establish QCU as a leading hub for robotics among State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs) across the Philippines.
To amplify this vision, he announced a forthcoming regional robotics roadshow to inspire and empower other academic institutions to explore robotics education. This initiative aims to cultivate innovation, foster collaboration, and elevate awareness about the transformative role of robotics in shaping the future of Philippine education and industry.
Team QCU1’s journey from local competitions to the world stage reflects the power of Filipino talent and determination. More than just a competition, their participation in the VEX World Robotics Championship represents a leap forward for local engineering and IT education, showcasing that with vision and dedication, Filipino innovation can thrive globally.
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