The SAP data science competition in collaboration with ASEAN Foundation called ASEAN Data Science Explorers has been harnessing the youths’ data analytics skills to highlight key issues in the ASEAN region since 2017.
RMIT University Vietnam students Hoa Phung and Thinh Nguyen of Team Catfish were named the ASEAN DSE Regional Finals 2020 grand winners for their presentation that was focused on People with Disability: Unlocking the economic bottleneck.
This year’s virtual ASEAN DSE Regional Finals named the top 10 teams from 10 ASEAN nations that have presented data-driven solutions that can make a difference to its people, supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the region. The selected six SDGs themes that the participants covered in their proposed solutions are Good Health and Well-being, Quality Education, Gender Equality, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, and Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Thomas Zipperle, Chief Financial Officer at SAP Southeast Asia said:
“The ASEAN DSE program underpins the cultural diversity that SAP celebrates and embraces in the ASEAN region. Digital skills are essential for the workforce of today and the future. SAP Analytics Cloud aims to bridge the digital gap in ASEAN and empower youths to create sustainable innovations to address socio-economic issues.”
ASEAN Foundation and SAP Data Science Competition Winners
The participants’ innovative ideas were judged on the best all-rounded concept, which includes creativity, feasibility, and the team’s ability to demonstrate the implementation of the solution. The young contenders addressed issues such as social inequalities, relooking into and managing new energy sources, mental and physical health, empowering people with disabilities and youth to be active contributors to community and society, and growing ASEAN’s workforce through digital integration.
Executive Director of ASEAN Foundation, Dr. Yang Mee Eng, highlighted:
“ASEAN Foundation and SAP share the common objective of equipping youths with future-ready skills that will enable them to thrive in the new normal era and supporting the theme of Viet Nam’s ASEAN Chairmanship, which is building a ‘Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN.”
As the regional champion, Team Catfish received the grand prize of USD 1,500. Sharing about their momentous win, the RMIT students said:
“The journey of ASEAN Data Science Explorers has taken us from our observations of the surroundings to data-driven solutions, and ultimately actions. From this, we now truly believe that, even as young people, we can contribute to building a better future. And as we’ve said in our presentation: ‘Let’s work together for a future that works.”
The National University of Singapore and Yale-NUS College students Koay Tze Min and Ng Yi Ming of Team Halcyon Seraph took the first runner-up position and the USD 1000 prize for their presentation that was focused on ASEAN Women-UP Township Network covering SDG 5 – Gender Equality and SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth.
Universiti Teknologi Brunei students Oscar Fang Jack Ling and Quah Chun Meng of Team Psyduck tackled SDG 4 – Quality Education, SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth, and SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities in their presentation that was focused on Digital Integration – the Key to Growth. The team took home USD 500 as a prize.
The top three presentations were part of the 852 proposals submitted this year.
