UNAIR NEWS – Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) students have once again achieved success at the national level. The team, whose members come from across faculties, won Third Place in the Engineering Case Competition (ECC) at Airlangga Technology Week (AIRNOLOGY). The team consisted of Naila Farah Fauziyah and Madeline Giovani from the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST), along with Isnaini Noor Mahmuudah from the Faculty of Vocational Studies (FV).
The final round, organized by the Student Executive Board (BEM) of the Faculty of Advanced Technology and Multidisciplinary Science (FTMM) UNAIR, was held in person at the Plaza Building, UNAIR MERR-C Campus, on Saturday, September 12, 2026. The initial stage of the competition involved an online proposal submission, which narrowed the field to five finalist teams by Saturday, September 5, 2026.
Proposing an electric vehicle battery solution
In the competition, participants were presented with a case study on the operational reliability of the domestic electric vehicle (EV) industry, specifically the risks of overheating and battery cell leakage during fast charging. The team addressed these challenges through a proposal titled “Synergy Between Smart Manufacturing and Smart Electric Vehicle Systems: An Interdisciplinary Solution to Local Battery Reliability Challenges and Future Autonomous Navigation.”
One of the proposed solutions was passive cooling based on Composite Phase Change Material (CPCM). The material is designed to absorb latent heat, keeping the surface temperature of battery cells below 42°C during high-current charging while reducing the risk of thermal runaway.
Fauziyah explained that preparation involved everything from discussing the case study to drafting the proposal. After advancing to the top five, the team presented their innovation design and took part in a question-and-answer session with the panel of judges.
“At first, we drafted a proposal to solve the problem using an engineering approach. After making it to the top five, we presented our design in the final round and went through an intensive Q&A session with three judges,” Fauziyah said.
Interdisciplinary collaboration
According to Fauziyah, the collaboration between FST and Vocational Studies students was the strength behind Team Hilang Arah’s approach to developing solutions. The combination of disciplines from both faculties brought different perspectives to understanding the engineering problem.
“I hope by joining this competition, I could learn and gain new insights. Even though my background isn’t strictly in engineering, at least I could understand the topics and new perspectives within the engineering field,” she said.
The competition also gave UNAIR students the opportunity to expand their network with participants from universities across Indonesia.
Fauziyah encouraged UNAIR students to be brave enough to start competing, noting that failure is part of the learning process and can serve as a stepping stone for trying again.
“For those who want to try to compete, don’t be afraid to start. If you don’t win on your first or second attempt, that’s okay. It’s normal, and you can always try again next time,” she said.
Author: Abraham Chrisanta Putra
Editor: Yulia Rohmawati
