On May 24–25, 2025, the UNAIR International Youth Summit team achieved a major international milestone. They won a gold medal and the Grand Champion title at the International Youth Summit (IYS) Essay Competition in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Moreover, the event involved global participants who presented innovative ideas for real-world problems.
Strong Collaboration Across Faculties
Firstly, the UNAIR team consisted of seven students from different faculties:
- 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)
- Zhafa Putra Syah (FISIP)
Their collaboration was effective because each member contributed different strengths. As a result, the team produced clear, creative, and practical solutions for the competition. Furthermore, this achievement strengthened UNAIR’s reputation in global academic events.
Innovative Projects for Global Impact
The team presented five projects related to major global challenges. These topics included education, environment, food security, technology, and sustainability. For example, their innovations included:
- Advanced technology for disability education
- Fish bone and cassava fiber for stunting prevention
- Banana peel application for pollution reduction
- Automated feeding technology for fish ponds
- Community empowerment for Zero Net Emission 2060
Because these ideas were interdisciplinary, the judges appreciated their real-world practicality. In addition, the projects showed potential for long-term social impact.
Five Awards and a Grand Champion Title
The team received five awards in total. Specifically, they earned:
- Gold Medal in Education
- Silver Medal in Food & Environment
- Bronze Medal in Technology & Economy
- Favorite Poster (Food)
- Favorite Poster (Economy)
Consequently, UNAIR was proudly named Grand Champion of the entire international competition. This result placed UNAIR above all other participating teams.
Preparation and Challenges
The preparation lasted for three months. During this period, the team researched, wrote essays, designed posters, and practiced presentations. According to Firman Maulana Barokah, the biggest challenge came from combining different academic perspectives. However, this challenge helped the team create stronger and more complete solutions.
He also shared that the experience taught them teamwork, communication, and time management. Therefore, these skills became essential throughout the competition.
Inspiration for Indonesian Students
The team hopes that their success will inspire more Indonesian students to take part in international events. Moreover, they plan to develop their projects further so they can contribute to society in real and measurable ways. Finally, this achievement shows that Indonesian students can excel globally when they receive the right support and opportunities.
Additional Highlights and Transition Summary
To summarize their journey, the UNAIR International Youth Summit team achieved an impressive accomplishment at the International Youth Summit 2025 in Malaysia. Firstly, the team secured a gold medal and the prestigious Grand Champion title after presenting several innovative multidisciplinary projects. Moreover, their ideas addressed real issues in education, environment, food security, and technology. As a result, the judges appreciated the team’s ability to combine research with practical solutions that benefit society.
Furthermore, the team worked together for nearly three months to prepare their essays, posters, and presentations. During this period, each member contributed unique strengths from their respective faculties. Consequently, their collaboration produced projects that were both creative and scientifically solid. In addition, the team faced several challenges, especially in combining different academic perspectives into one unified concept. However, these challenges eventually strengthened their teamwork and improved the quality of their final output.
For example, one of their innovations focused on developing technology for disability-friendly education, while another introduced a sustainable approach to reducing pollution using banana peel extract. Similarly, they created a concept for stunting prevention using fish bone and cassava fiber, demonstrating a strong commitment to social health. Therefore, the team’s projects were seen as impactful, future-oriented, and highly relevant to global needs.
Ultimately, the UNAIR International Youth Summit team hopes that their success will inspire more Indonesian students to participate in international competitions. In conclusion, this achievement proves that collaboration, preparation, and innovation can elevate students to the global stage and bring pride to their university and country.
Internal and External References
Internal link:
https://fpk.unair.ac.id/prestasi-mahasiswa/
Outbound link:
https://usim.edu.my/
