Associate Professor Dr Nirase Fathima Abubacker from APU received the prestigious Best Paper Award at CODE-AI 2025, highlighting her global research excellence in AI and Business Intelligence.

At the prestigious CODE-AI 2025: 2nd International Conference on Data Science & Exploration in Artificial Intelligence, held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Associate Professor Dr Nirase Fathima Abubacker, a faculty member at the Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU)’s School of Computing (SoC) has been awarded the Best Paper Award – Women in Engineering (WiE).

Her winning research paper, titled "Leveraging Natural Language Processing to Extract Influential Keywords for Business Intelligence in Beauty and Personal Care", was selected among a highly competitive pool of over 120 submissions from across the globe.

Award-Winning Research with Practical Impact

Dr Nirase’s research introduced a novel Natural Language Processing (NLP) methodology aimed at extracting influential keywords from customer reviews and market data, specifically tailored to the beauty and personal care sector.

“This innovation lies in utilising advanced NLP techniques such as contextual embeddings and keyword ranking to deliver actionable business intelligence,” explained Dr Nirase. “The reviewers particularly praised the practical relevance of my approach, bridging artificial intelligence with real-world industry applications.”

The paper’s unique focus and real-world applicability earned her high commendation, ultimately leading to the award. 

A Meaningful Platform for Showcasing APU’s Excellence

CODE-AI 2025, organised by the Department of Information Technology at the Manipal Institute of Technology, MAHE Bengaluru, in collaboration with the School of Engineering & IT (SoEIT) at MAHE, Dubai, UAE, provided a vital international platform for academics to exchange cutting-edge ideas in data science and AI.

When asked about her choice to present at CODE-AI 2025, Dr Nirase shared, “I selected this conference because of its strong focus on applied data science and AI innovations. Its emphasis on interdisciplinary and industry-relevant research made it the ideal venue to present my work and showcase APU’s research capabilities on a global stage.”

The conference was fiercely competitive, with entries from countries including the UAE, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Africa, and several European nations. Only a small fraction of submissions were accepted for oral presentations and even fewer received awards.

Enhancing Learning at APU Through Research

Beyond the immediate accolade, this research holds significant promise for enriching student learning at APU. Dr Nirase shared: “I intend to integrate elements of this research into APU’s curriculum, particularly in modules such as Natural Language Processing, Text Mining, and Business Analytics. Students will gain real-world insights into how AI can drive strategic business decision-making.”

Additionally, Dr Nirase is eager to extend her research further, with plans to publish in leading journals and involve more students in related projects. 

Her success story stands as an inspiring example of how academic research can contribute not just to scholarly communities but also directly impact education and industry practices.

A Stepping Stone Towards Greater Achievements

For APU, this achievement underscores the university’s growing reputation in the international AI and data science communities. It also reflects the commitment of its academics to producing impactful, industry-relevant research that transcends academic boundaries.

As Dr Nirase concluded, “Beyond receiving recognition, the conference provided an excellent opportunity to network with global researchers, explore future collaborations, and set the foundation for expanding my research into broader domains. I am excited about what lies ahead.”

Dr Nirase's success at CODE-AI 2025 stands as a testament to the power of innovation and perseverance — qualities that will undoubtedly continue to elevate APU’s global standing in research and education.