UNAIR NEWS — Students representing multiple study programs at Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) have once again achieved international acclaim. They earned Gold Medals, competing among more than 1,300 participants, in the Poster Competition category of the ASEAN Virtual Student Opinion Competition (AVISOC) 2025. The event was held on (20/11/2025) at Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, organized by the Faculty of Administrative Science in collaboration with the International Relations Office (IRO) FIA UB and the International Office Universitas Brawijaya (IOUB).
Exploring the digital economy and youth leadership
The UNAIR team consisted of Faradina Amalia Citra (Faculty of Vocational Studies), Lusy Ayunda Lestari (Faculty of Humanities), and Endita Maharani (Faculty of Social and Political Sciences). AVISOC 2025 carried the theme “Fostering ASEAN Youth Innovation in Business, Public Service, Education, and Climate Action.” For their entry, the team selected the Business category and produced a poster titled “Empowering ASEAN Youth in Digital Entrepreneurship and Startup Growth: Fostering Innovation, Collaboration, and Economic Growth Across Southeast Asia.”
Citra and her team highlighted key issues such as digital literacy, ASEAN countries’ economic readiness, and the challenges confronting digital MSMEs. She emphasized that youth hold a significant role in driving startup ecosystems and digital innovation in the region. “Through this poster, I wanted to spotlight that potential while also addressing issues like digital literacy, internet access, and the barriers faced by digital MSMEs that still need solutions,” Citra said.
Project preparation and competition challenges
Their preparation began with gathering data on ASEAN’s digital economy and designing visuals that clearly communicated their ideas. The team also prepared extensively for the interview stage by deepening their understanding of regional digital business innovation.
According to Lestari, the greatest challenge lay in condensing complex information about ASEAN’s digital economy into a single poster without sacrificing academic rigor. The intense competition, with more than 1,300 submissions, was an additional hurdle.
“To create a compelling poster, I broke the information into smaller sections such as background, digital economy value, youth contributions, benefits, and conclusions, while ensuring every piece of data was accurate,” Lestari explained.
Motivation and strategy behind their achievement
Their strong drive motivated them to pursue a new experience at the international level. Maharani shared that her personal goal was not only to develop her skills but also to contribute meaningfully to an ongoing global issue through their project.
“Most importantly, we aimed to produce work that was visually appealing, clearly relevant, and met the judges’ assessment criteria,” Maharani said.
The team carried the principle: “Perfection isn’t required, but giving our best is.” With careful preparation, verified data, and effective visual planning, the UNAIR team successfully demonstrated their strengths on an international stage.
Message for UNAIR students
As team leader, Citra encouraged UNAIR students not to hesitate in trying new opportunities, including joining national or international competitions.
“Don’t wait until you feel fully prepared. Readiness develops once you take the first step. Competitions are not just about winning or losing but about growth, courage, and gaining new experiences,” Citra concluded.
Author: Muhammad Nabil Fawaid
Editor: Ragil Kukuh Imanto
