Competing against Master’s and PhD-level participants, APU’s Diploma Data Informatics young innovators: Bowie Chong Yu Shin, Cheang Zhi Lin, Ian Chin Jun Sheng, and Ritchie Boon Win Yew breathed new life into the fading art of Wayang Kulit through an AI-powered chatbot featuring interactive storytelling and a virtual museum, clinched both a Gold award and the prestigious Best Gold Award for their project, Ravana Reimagined: Malaysia’s Wayang Kulit Experience.

In an astonishing display of creativity, cultural insight, and technological prowess, a team of Diploma in Information & Communication Technology with a specialism in Data Informatics students from Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) has achieved an extraordinary feat at the International Education Innovation Competition (Edu@Innovate) 2025.

Edu@Innovate 2025, endorsed by the Ministry of Education Malaysia, was held at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Perak; alongside the National Seminar on the Future of Academic Programmes (SEPAKAD) and Mini Festival of Ideas Putrajaya@Perak, showcasing innovations from across the globe. 

This year’s theme, ‘Empowering Humanity Amidst the Evolving Landscape of Innovation Challenges’, found its perfect champions in these talented, trailblazing students. 

Competing in the highly contested Higher Education Institutions (Public/Private) category, they emerged as the youngest team in their category, bravely going head-to-head with Master’s and PhD-level participants from universities across Malaysia. 

Not only did they clinch a coveted Gold award, but they also secured the prestigious Best Gold Award for their category.

Their ground-breaking project, ‘Ravana Reimagined: Malaysia’s Wayang Kulit Experience’, pushed the boundaries of cultural preservation through the ingenious application of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital media.

At its core is an AI-powered chatbot that breathes new life into Maharaja Wana — the Kelantanese Wayang Kulit rendition of Ravana from the epic Ramayana. 

This innovative chatbot offers interactive storytelling, engaging quizzes, a virtual museum, and even colouring activities, all meticulously designed to revitalise a fading art form and ignite a passionate interest in Malaysian heritage among today’s youth.

“The audience fell silent in awe as the students took to the stage to receive the overall Best Gold Award,” said Associate Professor Ts Dr Vinothini Kasinathan, their mentor. 

“This was not merely a category win; it was a testament to their unparalleled excellence across innovation, poster presentation, and pitching. 

“Even the VIPs on stage were visibly moved by their achievement. A senior official from the Ministry of Education Malaysia personally extended congratulations to the team and expressed gratitude to APU for its participation.”

The Spark of an Idea: Bringing Ravana to Life

One particularly heart-warming moment occurred during the Q&A session when their team leader Bowie Chong Yu Shin, despite her nerves, was asked why the team chose such a unique topic. 

“Because it is a dying culture,” her poignant reply, simple yet incredibly powerful, resonated deeply with the judging panel.

The idea to bring Ravana to life sparked when Dr Vino showed them pictures from the Malay Ethnology Museum and introduced them to Wayang Kulit. 

Bowie then asked who the ‘bad guy’ was, and upon learning it was Ravana, declared that she ‘wanted him’.

They delved into Ravana’s complex persona — a villain in Malaysian Wayang Kulit, yet a revered figure in Sri Lanka. 

Bowie and her teammates, Cheang Zhi Lin, Ian Chin Jun Sheng, and Ritchie Boon Win Yew, used innovation to promote cultural awareness and inclusive education. 

The project evolved into a compelling medium to blend culture and code, proving that technology can indeed serve as a powerful guardian of identity. 

Their exceptional work stood out for its profound social relevance, remarkable technical creativity, and an empathy-driven design that truly captivated the judges.

Sharing the team’s experience, Bowie explained that it was an enlightening experience to be involved in Edu@Innovate with their Wayang Kulit Chatbot, where traditional Malaysian shadow puppetry is married to AI, showcased for the very first time to juries and public users.

“Our chatbot was created to preserve Malaysia’s Wayang Kulit cultural heritage by promoting it in a fun, interactive, and educational way — making learning more engaging and meaningful,” she explained representing their groups. 

“We learned the importance of teamwork and communication, especially when building and presenting the chatbot. It also improved our presentation skills and deepened our understanding of Wayang Kulit.”

For the team, joining this competition added significant value, as the project originated from an assignment in their Introduction to AI module. 

“It helped us understand the subject better, and the whole experience met and even exceeded our expectations,” Bowie added. 

“We plan to join more competitions to get feedback, improve our chatbot, and explore new ways to make it even better.”