Outshining its closest rival on home turf, APU reaffirms its dominance in both Data Science and Actuarial Studies.

In a stunning showcase of analytical excellence and cross-disciplinary collaboration, students from the Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) made waves at the HWUM Datathon 2025, securing top positions and proving their mettle in a highly competitive, national-level event. 

Organised by Heriot-Watt University Malaysia’s leading student bodies—the Society of Actuarial Science (HWUMSAS) and the Society of Logical Interpretation of Data (SOLID)—this prestigious competition brought together some of the best data science and actuarial minds across Malaysia. 

The Datathon challenged university students and industry professionals alike to develop innovative solutions to real-world business problems using data science techniques. 

Cross-University Triumphs

Held on 19 March 2025, the Datathon finals delivered intense competition and thrilling results. Two APU teams rose above the rest, with Team WantanMe capturing the Champion title along with an RM6,000 cash prize, and Team Probabili-Tea claiming 2nd Runner-Up, earning a commendable RM2,000 prize. The event featured a total prize pool of RM12,500, underlining its importance as a key platform for fostering Malaysia’s future data talent. 

The Brains Behind the Win

Team WantanMe was composed of: Whitney Lim Wan Yee (Team Leader), Low Yan Cheng—both pursuing a BSc (Hons) in Computer Science with a specialism in Data Analytics—and Pon Zhun Yuen, a student of BSc (Hons) in Actuarial Studies. 

Team Probabili-Tea brought together three students from the Actuarial Studies programme: Janet Tan Hui Xin (Team Leader), Tan En Tong, Lim Li Ying, who specialise in Data Analytics. 

Both teams were under the expert guidance of Dr Kohila Malar Kalesamy, Senior Lecturer at APU’s School of Technology (SoT), whose mentorship was instrumental in their development and strategic approach.

Real-World Problems, Real-World Solutions

The finals tasked teams with optimising sales strategies for a business company called ElectroMax, a global electronics retailer grappling with inventory management and seasonal demand fluctuations. The task was to use data-driven strategies to optimise the company’s sales operations. 

Team WantanMe’s winning solution impressed the judges with its strategic blend of technical accuracy and business foresight. Their key tools included:

• SARIMA models, achieving a 77.78% directional accuracy in sales forecasting
• K-Nearest Neighbour (KNN) clustering for customer segmentation

Their recommendations featured:

• Shutting down underperforming physical outlets
• Reallocating resources to promote high-margin products
• Implementing tiered delivery models to boost online customer engagement

“Our models didn’t just predict sales—they provided a roadmap for sustainable growth,” said Whitney Lim Wan Yee, Team Lead. “For example, redirecting costs from zero-sales outlets into targeted online discounts could lower operational costs by 15% while significantly enhancing customer acquisition.” 

Meanwhile, Team Probabili-Tea took a different but equally compelling approach. They centred their solution on:

• Dynamic pricing algorithms
• Customer lifetime value (CLV) analysis

Their model focused on adaptive pricing strategies based on real-time data and market shifts, ensuring both competitiveness and long-term profitability. 

“Balancing technical precision with business practicality was key,” explained Janet Tan Hui Xin, Team Lead of Probabili-Tea. “We designed a model that could flex with market demands while sustaining growth across seasonal cycles.” 

APU’s Competitive Edge in Actuarial and Data Science

The road to the finals began with a preliminary round on 22 February 2025, where participants tackled risk classification for AutoShield Insurance using machine learning. APU’s teams shone through their ability to extract insightful features, interpret complex models, and translate findings into meaningful business implications.

In the finals, both teams demonstrated resilience by navigating the nuances of pandemic-driven data anomalies, refining their solutions to reflect both technical depth and strategic alignment.

Mentor Dr Kohila Malar Kalesamy reflected on their success: 

“Their solutions blended technical rigour with cost-benefit analysis—a hallmark of industry-ready graduates.

The dynamic pricing models, particularly, showed an understanding of both accuracy and scalability that impressed the judges deeply.”

A Testament to Talent and Training

This dual victory isn’t just another trophy for APU’s cabinet—it is a resounding endorsement of the university’s emphasis on industry-relevant learning and its ability to produce versatile, problem-solving graduates.

By outperforming even its most prominent competitor on its turf, APU has not only cemented its reputation as a powerhouse in Data Science but also reaffirmed its growing strength in Actuarial Studies.

These achievements are a compelling reminder that in the ever-evolving world of data, APU doesn’t just follow the trends—it sets them.