Vathya Shaum Marwa, a student of International Relations at Diponegoro University (Undip), successfully won the Best Presenter Award as well as the Runner-Up Team Award at the ASEAN Future Innovators Challenge. This competition is part of the ASEAN Student Mobility Programme under the ASEAN Universities Exhibition and Forum (AEF) 2025, which took place from February 11–25, 2025, in Malaysia. The program was organized by the Centre for International Affairs and Cooperation (CIAC) at Universiti Utara Malaysia, with support from the ASEAN University Network (AUN) and Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS). AEF 2025 carried the spirit of collaboration among ASEAN students to produce innovative solutions to regional challenges, particularly in support of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

From Diponegoro University, five students participated, and Vathya was placed at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) along with around 20 other participants from various ASEAN countries. The program at UPM focused on “Empowering ASEAN Youth,” encouraging participants to engage in discussions, collaborate, and design solution-based ideas to tackle regional issues.

One of the most memorable experiences for Vathya was her involvement in the ASEAN Future Innovators Challenge, a group competition participated in by all ASMP delegates. Her team was spontaneously formed on the first day during the Familiarization Visit and included students from the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia, each from different universities. They were challenged to formulate responses regarding the role of students as young leaders in facing major regional issues. At UPM, the issue highlighted was textile waste.

Through extensive cross-cultural discussions and diverse perspectives, Vathya’s team came up with a transnational youth movement to address the problem of textile waste. Their proposal included collecting fashion waste for recycling, organizing empowerment workshops on turning discarded fabrics into valuable products, and holding bazaars or auctions where the proceeds would be donated back to the community.

The process of developing the idea was not always smooth. Differences in background and thinking approaches posed challenges, but these experiences turned out to be valuable lessons. Vathya also faced the challenge of presenting the team’s ideas in English in front of a panel of judges, most of whom were professors from UPM.

As a result, Vathya’s team won the Runner-Up Team Award among five competing teams at UPM. Additionally, Vathya herself was honored with the Best Presenter Award a proud achievement not only for her personally but also for Diponegoro University.

The event culminated in the ASEAN Universities Exhibition and Forum (AEF) 2025 closing program, where all participants from various host universities in Malaysia gathered at Sunway Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. The forum reaffirmed the importance of ASEAN youth as agents of change and served as a platform for cross-country exchange of ideas and inspiration. Vathya’s achievement stands as a concrete example of Diponegoro University students’ contribution on an international stage and highlights the critical role of ASEAN youth in supporting sustainable development.***