On May 24–25, 2025, Firman Maulana Barokah and his team from Universitas Airlangga’s Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences (FPK UNAIR) achieved remarkable success by winning a gold medal and multiple awards at the International Youth Summit (IYS) Essay Competition, organized by the Sentosa Foundation in collaboration with the International Students’ Association of USIM (Insan USIM), Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), and the World Association of Young Scientists (WAYS) in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. This prestigious competition brought together students from various countries to present scientific essays addressing global challenges.
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The UNAIR team, consisting of seven multidisciplinary students, demonstrated exceptional synergy and collaboration, earning international recognition. Team members include Firman Maulana Barokah (FPK), Salfa Dwi Firmansyah (FKH), Mochamad Dava Hibrawardana (FEB), Deva Fitra Firdausa Anwar (FK), Muhammad Dani Anko Putra (FKG), Sanjati Nugroho (FPK), and Zhafa Putra Syah (FISIP). Their achievement reflects UNAIR students’ intellectual capacity, creativity, and collaborative spirit in tackling global issues through innovative and solution-oriented scientific writing. Participants showcased outstanding research, analytical, and presentation skills in a highly competitive international forum.
The competition addressed contemporary global challenges across themes such as education, environment, technology, food security, and sustainable economy. The UNAIR team presented five innovative projects, including:
- Utilizing Modern Technology for Inclusive Education for Students with Disabilities
- Fish Bone and Cassava Fiber Waste Innovation to Prevent Stunting
- Banana Peel Utilization to Reduce Environmental Pollution
- Automated Feed Technology for Fish Ponds
- Community Empowerment through Social Enterprise Towards Indonesia Zero Net Emission 2060
UNAIR students achieved an impressive haul of awards: a Gold Medal (Education category), Silver Medal (Food & Environment), Bronze Medal (Technology & Economic), and Favorite Poster (Food & Economic), earning a total of one gold, two silver, two bronze, and two favorite poster awards. Their outstanding performance led to the UNAIR team being crowned Grand Champion among all participants.
The journey to the competition began three months prior, as the team formed through cross-faculty collaboration. During this period, they engaged in intensive research, essay writing, scientific poster preparation, and presentation rehearsals. “The biggest challenge was integrating diverse perspectives from different academic backgrounds. Yet, that diversity became our strength, as all ideas merged into holistic and innovative solutions,” Firman explained.
One of the most memorable moments was hearing Universitas Airlangga announced as both Gold Medal winner and Grand Champion. “We are deeply grateful and moved. All the hard work, late nights, and pressure over months have truly paid off,” Firman said. He added, “This victory is not just about medals; it’s about the process, the effort, and the values we learned. We discovered the importance of communication, teamwork, time management, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.”
The UNAIR team hopes this achievement will inspire not only themselves and the university but also students across Indonesia to continue contributing to international forums. “We aspire for our projects to serve as real-world solutions. Moving forward, we plan to develop these ideas into long-term, practical initiatives that positively impact society and contribute to a better Indonesia,” Firman concluded. This accomplishment demonstrates that, when given the right support and opportunities, Indonesian youth can shine globally. Through the dedication, innovation, and collaborative spirit of its students, Universitas Airlangga continues to produce tangible, proud achievements on the international stage.
