APU Students Showcase Cutting-Edge Ideas at Sustainability Hackathon 2025

The APU Sustainability Hackathon 2025 reached an exciting conclusion on 5 July 2025 at the Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) campus. This three-month, two-stage competition was designed to inspire tech-driven, data-centric innovations that serve as a launchpad for creativity. 

The event empowers APU students to pitch solutions with the potential to advance to the France Ocean Hackathon, amplifying their global impact. Participants will collaborate with industry experts and mentors to refine their ideas, fostering interdisciplinary teamwork among APU's schools and staff, in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. 

Organised through a remarkable collaboration between the School of Computing (SoC), School of Marketing & Management (SoMM) and School of Mathematics, Actuarial and Quantitative Studies (SoMAQS), the hackathon encouraged creativity and teamwork across disciplines. 

The Head of SoC, Associate Professor Ts Dr Tan Chin Ike, and the Head of SoMM, Associate Professor Dr Devinder Kaur, delivered their opening remarks during the launch ceremony. Words of encouragement were also shared at the closing, via a Teams call, by APU's Chief Innovation and Enterprise Officer, Professor Ir EUR ING Dr Vinesh Thiruchelvam, while he was working overseas. 

"Top teams that advanced to a 24-hour Hackathon Phase stand a chance to represent APU at the France Ocean Hackathon, which will be held between 17-19 October. This year, APU will be the local host for the Kuala Lumpur edition, and the winner from the KL Edition will represent Malaysia in the grand finale," shared Ms T. Tulasi Appalasamy, Lecturer at SoC and the driving force behind the event. 

From 21 Ideas to 10 Finalists

The hackathon attracted 21 submissions, with 11 teams shortlisted. After rigorous assessment, 10 teams competed in the final 24-hour challenge, held on 4-5 July. Projects were judged on six key criteria: creativity & originality, technology implementation, significance & practicality, product validation, feasibility, and presentation & execution. 

Celebrating the Winners

First Place: Team Green Gen

• Members: Muhammad Hassan Bin Mohd Nasir, Aariz Abdul Aziz Shaikh, Thiriidev Kumar Murlidaran, Jassmetaa Anthony Philip Beins, Gregory Raven Andrew Selian (Bachelor of Mechatronic Engineering with Honours), and Sarah Manisha Oorjitham (Diploma in Information and Communications Technology - Software Engineering).
• Prize: RM1,000 cash
• Project: Eco-Raya, a smart urban air-purifying structure integrating moss biofilters, solar-powered smog vacuum technology, and reusable carbon filters to combat urban air pollution.
   

Second Place: Team Nemo Inc

• Members: Riteikes A Prakash (Foundation Studies), Ang Tyen (Bachelor of Mechatronic Engineering with Honours), Phang Shin Ni (Diploma in ICT), Christabel Yap Yee Xi (Mechatronic Engineering), Wong Wen Xuan (Actuarial Studies).
• Prize: RM700 cash
• Project: Corallius, a conceptual autonomous underwater drone designed to support coral reef restoration.
   

Third Place: Team Eternal Blue

• Members: Leonard Su Ming Hui (Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Computer Science with a specialism in Data Analytics), Nurul Amni Binti Abdul Wafi (Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Digital Advertising), Lim Lee Khang, Jasmine Hanna Binti Zolkarnain, and Dewmi Anusha Sewwandi Abewickrama Batagodage (Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Computer Science - Cyber Security).
• Prize: RM500 cash
• Project: Little Beans, an educational platform with a portal and app teaching sustainability to kids through fun, waste-reducing methods.
   

Strengthening Interdisciplinary Collaboration

The hackathon's core objective was to unite diverse skill sets and perspectives, encouraging students to leverage each other's strengths while addressing real-world sustainability challenges. This spirit of collaboration extended to the organising committee, which included Ms T. Tulasi Appalasamy (SoC), Ms Harjinder Kaur and Mr David Ng Kok Meng (SoMM), Mr Lee Chee Nian (SoMAQS), and Ir Ts Subhashini Gopal Krishnan (SoE).

Notably, Ensign InfoSecurity, Asia's largest pure-play cybersecurity services provider, served as the sole sponsor for the second consecutive year. Their experts, Ms Yehamathi Thangaiah (HR Director) and Mr Kelvin Khong (Security Consultant), provided industry mentorship, enriching the participants' problem-solving and technical expertise.

Student mentors Trishah Rajendran, Morgan Mak Lee Ann, Brenden Tan Poh Guan and Joanna Mable Chan, along with student volunteers, Akshit Jangid, Moldagaliyev Arman and Shibdoyal Vaideh, lent their support.

Nurturing Global Sustainability Leaders

To deepen participants' knowledge, Mr Vijayaraj Vijayasingam, Senior Lecturer from the School of Technology (SoT), delivered a workshop on "Sustainability Practices in Projects", empowering teams to integrate practical and sustainable approaches into their prototypes. 

On the Horizon

Reflecting on the success of this year's hackathon, the organising teams from SoC, SoMM and SoMAQS, under the leadership of Assoc Prof Ts Dr Tan Chin Ike, Assoc Prof Dr Devinder Kaur, and Assoc Prof Dr Rajasegeran Ramasamy, are committed to creating more transformative opportunities. These initiatives aim to empower students, drive sustainability, and inspire innovations that make a lasting global impact.