Get to Know Zahran Rayssal Ghaza, ITB’s Representative at Clash of Champions (CoC) by Ruangguru 2024

Oleh M. Naufal Hafizh

Editor M. Naufal Hafizh

BANDUNG, itb.ac.id - Zahran Rayssal Ghaza, a student from the Urban and Regional Planning (PL) study program at Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), was one of the contestants in the Clash of Champions, a competition show organized by Ruangguru.

Clash of Champions is an academic competition that brings together dozens of Indonesian students from various local and international universities to compete and test their academic skills. The show first aired on Saturday, June 29, 2024, and concluded on Saturday, August 17, 2024, with a total of 11 episodes.

Before being officially selected as one of the contestants on Clash of Champions, Ghaza received a referral from a member of Ruangguru’s management team. He then went through an initial selection process, which involved solving math, physics, and basic logic problems within a short time frame.

“At that time, I was contacted by Kak Iman, the Co-Founder and COO of Ruangguru, and I had to complete the selection questions in a limited time. A few days later, I was informed that I had passed and would be representing ITB as one of the contestants on CoC,” he said.

Ghaza, who made it to the top 20, has a strong record of achievements at both national and international levels. He was one of the delegates at HPAIR HCONF 2023, an event organized by Harvard University in Boston, United States. Additionally, he actively participates in Business Case Competitions (BCC), Business Plan Competitions (BPC), and Project Competitions. With his extensive competition experience, Ghaza competed against other CoC contestants from various universities.

Reflecting on his experience in the CoC competition, Ghaza shared that he gained many positive insights, such as the opportunity to exchange academic and non-academic experiences and to learn about the mindsets and motivations of other contestants.

One of the challenges Ghaza faced during the CoC competition was the pressure of competing against other highly capable contestants, all of whom were also representing their respective universities.

To overcome this challenge, Ghaza focused on maintaining his concentration and managing his time effectively. These strategies were crucial in helping him solve complex problems within a limited time.

Ghaza also shared some tips for achieving success: First, participate in many competitions to explore your potential and discover your talents. Second, broaden your network, as it will be invaluable for one’s future.

Currently, Ghaza is busy with an internship, a scholarship program, involvement in several organizations, and preparing for an exchange program in Hungary.

After the Clash of Champions competition ended, Ghaza plans to leverage his social media engagement by sharing useful content with his followers. “Since the CoC, my social media engagement has been really high, so I want to share anything about academic and non-academic topics that could be beneficial for my audience,” he said.

He also encourages others to take the positive lessons from the Clash of Champions show, such as continuing to learn, striving for excellence, and staying motivated in pursuing their dreams.


Reporter: Angra Eni Saepa (Urban and Regional Planning, 2021)
Translator: Anggi Nurdiani (Management, 2024)
Editor: Ayesha Lativa Mafaza (Postharvest Technology, 2021)


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