UNAIR NEWS – A team of students from Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) has achieved a remarkable victory, securing first place in the Lomba Karya Tulis Al-Qur’an (LKTIA) Ramadan di Kampus (RDK) 2025, a prestigious national competition organized by Universitas Gadjah Mada.
The event, held on Friday (March 21, 2025), focused on the reinterpretation of Quranic teachings on prosperity and collective well-being in addressing social and environmental crises. The UNAIR team distinguished themselves with their innovative eco-conscious application, Rootin’, which integrates Islamic ecological principles into a digital platform.
This year’s winning team was formed through a collaborative effort among students from various faculties, including the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST), and the Faculty of Humanities (FIB). The team members—Qonita Salma, Eka Novia Ai’zatul Ulya, and Riska Yuliana Putri—developed their pioneering project to promote sustainability and ecological awareness.
Rootin’: A digital solution for environmental awareness
Salma, the team leader, explained that their project was inspired by Quranic teachings on environmental stewardship, leading them to develop Rootin’, an application that encourages ecological responsibility. The concept was based on Al-An’am 99, interpreted through the ecological framework of Ziauddin Sardar.
“Our team designed Rootin’ to reflect the environmental principles outlined in Al-An’am 99,” Salma explained. “The app includes features such as vegetation donation, plant identification, environmental activism campaigns, literacy resources, and more.”
Challenges in the competition
Salma also shared insights into the challenges they faced throughout the RDK 2025 competition, particularly in presenting their project to a panel of highly experienced judges specializing in Quranic literary interpretation. “We were caught off guard when we realized we were presenting to judges who were experts in our topic,” she recalled. “Beyond assessing our work, they provided us with valuable, in-depth feedback that will be incredibly useful for future improvements.”
The team’s success was the result of an intense competition process, beginning with a three-month selection phase. After advancing to the final stage, they had just one week to complete and submit their research paper.
“This time constraint was particularly challenging because our team members came from different faculties, each balancing academic responsibilities, extracurricular commitments, and religious obligations,” Salma explained. “We had to carefully manage our time, and despite the tight schedule, we completed our full paper within a week and finalized our PowerPoint and presentation rehearsals in just one day.”
Salma and her team hope their achievement will serve as an inspiration for other students to stay motivated and committed to their goals. She emphasized that success is built on dedication and perseverance, encouraging others to embrace challenges as stepping stones toward meaningful accomplishments.
Author: Ersa Awwalul Hidayah
Editor: Yulia Rohmawati
