APU earned three silver awards and one bronze at IUCEL and MaGIEx, with winning projects that included AI-driven solutions in cyber threat analysis, game-based learning, Capture the Flag (CTF) training, and the Justmarketing platform for localised marketing content, which also secured a Top 20 spot in the recent AWS AI Hackathon.

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The Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) has secured multiple awards at the International University Carnival on E-Learning (IUCEL) 2025 and the Malaysia Grand Invention Expo (MaGIEx) 2025.

APU academicians and students showcased exceptional creativity and technical expertise, earning three silver medals and one bronze at IUCEL and MaGIEx.

The first silver medal at IUCEL was awarded to a collaborative team from the School of Computing (SoC) and the School of Technology (SoT): Ms Salasiah Sulaiman, Dr Julia Juremi and Mr Mohamad Firdaus Che Abdul Rani.

Their project, AI-Enhanced Cyber Threat Analysis Module for SOC-Based Learning, was praised for its strong real-world relevance.

“Our AI-Enhanced Cyber Threat Analysis (CTA) Module bridges the gap between classroom theory and real-world Security Operations Centre (SOC) practice,” explained Ms Salasiah on behalf of the team.

“It integrates AI-driven learning aids with hands-on SOC activities such as log analysis and incident response, providing a dynamic, inclusive and industry-aligned learning experience validated by external experts.”

Reflecting on the experience, she added that IUCEL had taught them the importance of presenting complex ideas clearly and communicating the real-world impact of their project to a diverse audience.

“It was a valuable journey that strengthened our skills and affirmed our alignment with industry standards.”

Pushing the boundaries

The second silver medal went to Mr Mohamad Firdaus Che Abdul Rani for his project, Bridging Play and AI Through a Hybrid Board Game for Adaptive Formative Assessment in Programming Education.

As a dedicated IUCEL participant since 2017, he regards the carnival as an important platform for continuous improvement.

“IUCEL motivates me to keep innovating and exploring new possibilities in teaching and learning,” he said. 

“Instructional design has always been both my passion and my main research focus, especially in the areas of game-based learning and gamification.”

His award-winning hybrid board game integrates AI that automates key instructional tasks such as challenge creation, feedback delivery and reward distribution, offering adaptive formative assessment for novice Python learners.

“The competition exposed me to diverse perspectives and reinforced the need to continuously update my skills, particularly with the rapid integration of technologies such as AI, immersive media and adaptive learning systems,” he added.

The bronze medal at IUCEL was secured by APU Cyber Security student Ng Zi Yuan for his project, Empowering Capture the Flag (CTF) Education and Tools by Integrating and Embedding AI: Fine Tuning Models from Hugging Face for Specific Purposes, supervised by Associate Professor Ts Dr Vinothini Kasinathan.

Zi Yuan expressed his excitement at the recognition, saying that winning the bronze award was an honour and validated the aim of his project, to make CTF training more accessible and effective through seamless AI integration.

He added that he fine-tuned large language models from Hugging Face to deliver targeted support and learning tools for CTF challenges, enabling faster and more effective learning for the next generation of cyber defenders.

“This competition truly validated the effort invested into merging cybersecurity and machine learning. Being recognised at IUCEL motivates me to continue pushing the boundaries of EdTech.”

Real-world AI impact

APU’s momentum continued at MaGIEx 2025, where a team of Software Engineering, Cyber Security and Artificial Intelligence students earned a silver medal in the Stage 3 — Tertiary Inventor category.

The team, consisting of Kwan Jun Er, Tan Wai Ken, Ang Jian Ming, Maxwell and Lucius Wilbert Tjoa, developed Justmarketing: A Smart AI-Driven Platform for Context-Aware Marketing Content Localisation and Creation in Malaysia. 

Guided by mentors Ms Salasiah Sulaiman and Ms Nur Amira Abdul Majid, the project also achieved a Top 20 placement in the Great AWS AI Hackathon 2025.

Speaking on behalf of the team, Jun Er explained that Justmarketing uses AI to generate marketing content that is not simply translated, but genuinely localised and culturally relevant to Malaysian audiences.

“Winning silver at MaGIEx and placing in the Top 20 of the AWS AI Hackathon proves the strong real-world potential and technical depth of our platform.

“It was a tremendous team effort, and we are proud that our interdisciplinary work in software engineering, cybersecurity and AI has been recognised on such significant stages.”