The "Asia Innovative Leader Challenge: The Role of Social Technology for Future Society" is a pioneering online competition organized by Universitas Indonesia and co-hosted by Saint Louis University. The competition is one of the fruitful events under the shed of the Asian Universities Alliance (AUA) which extended from September through December 2023 virtually on Zoom, attracting 104 undergraduates across 32 teams from 20 universities.
Participants were encouraged to develop groundbreaking ideas and solutions to enhance societal well-being and address pressing issues. The competition focused on fast-tracking the region toward an inclusive and sustainable economic future. It featured three key themes: AI and Data Science, Asian Civilization, and Energy and Sustainability, with projects aligned to specific Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
The event was structured in four phases: an initial Registration and motivational video submission, followed by a Leader Camp webinar to develop foundational knowledge seeking guidance from experts to develop well-thought innovative solutions. The subsequent mentoring sessions helped refine the teams' proposals, culminating in a final Leader Pitch where solutions were presented to a panel of expert jurors.
The winners were announced in three categories. The Solargrove team from Universitas Indonesia took first place in Energy and Sustainability. In the Asian Civilization category, first place went to Penghijuan, also from Universitas Indonesia. Meanwhile, the Thihasna team from General Sir John Kothalawala Defense University clinched the top spot in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science.
Participants of the Leadership Camp described it as an eye-opening, fun and helpful learning experience. They also found the Mentoring Session very useful in terms of receiving a lot of feedback and valuable advice from the mentoring professors.
This event not only fostered collaboration and innovative thinking among the participants but also expanded their networks, connecting them with peers and experts across the Asian academic landscape. The successful outcomes of this challenge demonstrate the potent synergy of academia, practitioners, and government in driving meaningful social change.
Writer: Ehab ALETOUM
