The competition, a collaboration between Universitas Padjadjaran and Samsung, challenged participants to analyze and develop solutions for case studies related to Samsung’s product distribution. The event attracted students from various countries, including Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Malaysia, and Kazakhstan. The BIZBUDS team demonstrated that they not only possess engineering expertise but also have the ability to design innovative business strategies aligned with the digital transformation era.

Competing with students from various backgrounds, Team BIZBUDS was faced with the real challenge of addressing the digital literacy gap in Indonesia. One of their main focuses was to reduce the digital access gap between Java and other regions such as Kalimantan and Papua. They proposed a solution that caught the attention of the panelists, including the Head of Samsung Technical Advance Response Asia Pacific.

In the concept that they developed, they presented Samsung Bridge, a program that aims to increase access to digital literacy for children in remote areas. By utilizing existing facilities such as empty buildings or by building new learning centers, the program is designed to empower tens of thousands of children who have been deprived of digital education.

In addition, they introduced Samsung Learn and Play, a gamification-based platform that makes digital learning more engaging and interactive. Inspired by the concept of game-based education, students can learn through educational challenges and earn points that can be redeemed for scholarships or advanced training.

Meanwhile, Samsung Excellent is a digital scholarship initiative and internship opportunity for talented students in Indonesia, as well as a national competition aimed at motivating students to develop their digital skills.

One of the success factors of Team BIZBUDS in this competition was the creative and innovative way they presented their ideas. They used an interactive presentation approach with “Shark Tank”-style gimmicks and roleplay, which made their presentation more interesting and memorable in the eyes of the judges. This uniqueness earned them the attention of the panelists from Samsung and set them apart from the other teams competing in the final round.

Although this was their first experience in a business case competition, they still put in their best effort and emphasized the importance of research and working together as a team. As the winners of this prestigious event, Team BIZBUDS hopes that more students will dare to take the opportunity to compete, develop creative ideas, and continue to learn from every challenge.

“Don't be afraid to join competitions, don't expect to win at the first opportunity. Every mistake you make is a lesson to be learned,” said Alika.

The success of the BIZBUDS Team is not only a source of pride for ITB but also shows that Indonesian students are able to compete at the international level with innovative ideas that are relevant to the times. Hopefully, this achievement can inspire the younger generation to continue to innovate and make a real contribution to the world of business and technology.

Reporter: Mely Anggrini (Meteorology Student, 2022)
Translator: Nafi’ah Rahni Nugrahanti (Civil Engineering Student, 2023)