Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) is proud to celebrate the remarkable achievement of four of its Bachelor of Computer Science (Hons) (Artificial Intelligence) students, who clinched the silver medal at the recent International Education Innovation Competition (Edu@Innovate 2025).

The prestigious event, organised by Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), took place from 19–20 May and provided an invaluable platform for educators, students, and industry leaders to come together to explore innovative approaches to education. 

With the theme “Empowering Humanity amidst the Evolving Landscape of Innovation Challenges”, Edu@Innovate 2025 focused on addressing inequalities, promoting digital literacy, and encouraging collaboration to maximise innovation’s potential while mitigating its associated risks. 

First-Year Students Triumph with Groundbreaking AI Solution

The APU team, consisting of first-year students Charvi Sirigiri, Christabel Joyce Joseph, Chung Ying Xin, and Su Ming Fei, outshone senior competitors in the highly competitive Technologies in Learning category. 

Their exceptional project, MindConnect: A Mental Health Companion for Students, was originally conceived as a classroom assignment. However, with remarkable determination, they transformed it into an award-winning, AI-driven solution that not only addresses pressing student mental health needs but also demonstrates real-world impact. 

By seamlessly integrating artificial intelligence to enhance mental health support and learning accessibility, the team’s project aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3: Good Health & Well-being and SDG 4: Quality Education). Their innovative approach exemplifies how academic mentorship, dedication, and creativity can produce solutions that truly empower communities. 

The Power of Mentorship and Teamwork 

The team’s success was guided by the dedicated mentorship of Assistant Professor Ts Dr Maythem K. Abbas from the School of Computing (SoC). Reflecting on the journey, team lead Chung Ying Xin shared, “Transforming a classroom concept into a competition-ready project was both exciting and overwhelming. As first-year students, almost everything was new to us—from designing chatbot workflows to understanding emotional intelligence in AI.” 

Chung continued, “We considered real-life user needs, future improvements, and how to make the bot feel helpful, comforting, and easy to use. Every little detail mattered, from tone of voice to potential user safety, and that pushed us to think like actual developers.” 

She also credited their mentor, “Dr Maythem truly helped us handle everything with confidence, even when things got stressful. We overcame challenges through teamwork, endless trial and error, and lots of user testing.” 

A Testimony to Academic Excellence 

Dr Maythem expressed his pride in his students’ accomplishments, stating, “Polishing students' potential is our duty as academics. I noticed the potential in these students, so I encouraged them and mentored them to participate as professionals. They did it!” 

He continued, “Their transformation from beginners to innovators in one semester was remarkable to witness. I will continue supporting them and all our students to grow, develop their skills, and become true professionals in their field.” 

An Inspiring Showcase of Innovation 

Edu@Innovate 2025 brought together participants from across the education spectrum, providing each team with a 1-square-metre booth to present their innovative ideas. The APU team’s MindConnect project stood out as a powerful testament to the capabilities of young minds when nurtured and guided with purpose. Their victory is not just a win for the team, but also a shining example of how educational institutions like APU are fostering the next generation of technology leaders. 

A Future Shaped by Ingenuity and Resilience

The success of APU’s first-year team at Edu@Innovate 2025 reflects the university’s commitment to nurturing talent, promoting digital innovation, and addressing real-world challenges through education. 

By combining academic rigour with practical experience and strong mentorship, APU continues to inspire students to harness technology’s potential to create positive societal impact. As these students have shown, with resilience, creativity, and support, even first-year students can innovate and lead the way towards a brighter, more equitable future.