From Sept 11–14, 2026, the YCYW Underwater Robotics Challenge took place in Shanghai. 14 YCIS Chongqing students competed against 90 students from 23 teams. Our primary teams won 1st and 2nd place.

This is not just about 14 students. At YCIS, every student gets a chance to shine like this.

From Parts to Robot

An underwater robot (ROV) is not a toy. It needs buoyancy, structure, power, and code. Before the event, the students’ only prep was Year 5 microbits coding—which helped with basic coding and algorithms. Over four days, they built, tested, and competed, turning simple parts into a working ROV.

Team Roles and Challenges

Each group had a Leader, Engineer, Observer, and Designer. The hardest parts? A shaky main frame and connecting the robot’s “brain” to its motors. The students got frustrated, but strong teamwork got them through.

Why They Won

Mr. Joshua Cowan, YCIS Chongqing’s Education Technology Coordinator, summed it up: great teamwork, sticking to roles, designing before building, and testing at every stage. “Both teams fully understood the task and executed it perfectly.”

More Than a Trophy

Underwater robotics mixes math, science, tech, and engineering—hands-on, cross-disciplinary learning. YCIS believes the future is uncertain. So we help students adapt. Strong academics are not about memorizing facts. They grow from confidence, critical thinking, self-discipline, curiosity, and grit.

Students from across the YCYW network worked together, learning to speak, listen, and collaborate across cultures—East meets West in action.

Behind It All: Seeds for Tomorrow

This challenge is part of EdFutures’ Seeds for Tomorrow program. Dr. Betty Chan, YCYW CEO & School Supervisor once said: “What students absorb is like seeds—they connect and grow in the brain. The more they are stimulated, the better they can face future challenges.”

Seeds for Tomorrow takes learning beyond the classroom—partnering with Oxford, HKU, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tongji, and more. From underwater robots to particle physics masterclasses, ChinaOne study trips, AI programs, and smart farms, students take on real-world projects.

At YCIS, this is for every child—not just a lucky few.

A Note for Parents

Ask less “What place did you get?” Ask more “What did you discover today?” Compare less. Encourage more. The real prize is not the trophy—it is the seed in your child’s heart that says, “I can keep exploring.”

Congratulations to all our students and a big thank you to our teachers. We cannot wait to see more YCIS Chongqing kids shine in STEM.