Page 72 - FactBook Junior Achievement Romania 2026

652 students 103 teachers 88 schools 61 localities digital and STEM skills Skills Upload Jr Challenge The Skills Upload Jr Challenge is an international competition aimed at promoting a balanced and responsible use of technology among students aged 11 to 16, grades 5-8. The competition, launched by Vodafone Foundation in 2024, takes place simultaneously in seven European countries, including Romania. It encoura- ges participants to develop innovative technological solutions to real-life challenges by exploring the role of artificial intelligence in everyday life and showing how it can support wellbeing and strengthen human connections when used responsibly. From a total of 178 lower secondary school teams, only five advanced to the nation- al final held in Bucharest on 9 February 2026, where they presented their projects to a jury. Among them, the DMS Team from Mihai Eminescu Secondary School, coordinated by teacher Popa Miana Florentina, represented Romania on the Euro- pean stage. Competing alongside teams from across Europe, the Romanian team received the “Mention for Quality of the Proposed Technological Solution”, recog- nising the quality, relevance, and strong potential of their innovative solution. Project financially supported by