Kuala Lumpur, February 15, 2025 — Another proud achievement has been made by students of the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Riau (FEB UNRI) at the 2nd International Student Competition, held in collaboration with the Centre for Entrepreneurial Development and Graduate Marketability (CEM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). At the international competition held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the student team brought home a series of prestigious awards.
At this event, the student delegation achieved remarkable success by winning the Grand Champion (Overall Champion) title, 3rd Winner, as well as a collection of medals: 1 Gold Medal, 1 Silver Medal, and 1 Bronze Medal. In addition, the team was named Best Paper winner, underscoring the quality of their ideas, research, and innovative presentations delivered before an international panel of judges.
The two FEB UNRI students who emerged as the main award recipients in the competition were Ebel Vigrajuska Asri (Management, Class of 2022) and Chairil Randy Nurrahman (Economics, Class of 2022). They strengthened the performance of the cross-faculty team, which also included Abel Hasti Ramadhani (Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Computer Science, Class of 2022) and Hanny Sc Va (Faculty of Agriculture, Agricultural Industrial Technology, Class of 2022). This interdisciplinary collaboration demonstrates that the best innovations are born from teamwork, diverse perspectives, and a strong research spirit.
Ebel and the team presented several innovation projects based on practical solutions addressing issues such as sustainability, digital transformation, and youth health. One of them is RESILIFERT, an environmentally friendly organic liquid fertilizer innovation that utilizes cow urine and empty oil palm bunches through anaerobic fermentation to support low-emission agriculture. This innovation is expected to help farmers gain access to affordable, high-quality fertilizers that can be produced independently, while also promoting the optimal utilization of waste—particularly empty oil palm bunches—which is highly relevant to Riau’s potential as one of Indonesia’s largest palm oil–producing regions.
In addition, the team also introduced BRANOVA, an end-to-end platform powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI Matching & Smart Builder) designed to help MSMEs grow and go digital. The platform not only supports business owners in scaling up their enterprises, but also creates job opportunities for freelancers as mentors and service providers, thereby contributing to the expansion of employment opportunities in the non-informal sector.
Another innovation, NicNo, presents a breakthrough hard candy made from Sawi Langit (Vernonia cinerea) extract with Stevia as a sweetener, integrated with a reward-based application called SoNic (Sobat NicNo). Through a barcode-scanning mechanism to collect points that can be redeemed as e-wallet balance, this innovation aims to transform the smoking cessation process into a more positive and enjoyable experience for the younger generation.
The Dean of FEB UNRI, Dr. Hj. Alvi Furwanti Alwie, S.E., M.M., expressed appreciation for the students’ achievements, which demonstrate FEB UNRI’s strength in developing globally competitive talent.
“This achievement proves that FEB UNRI students are capable of delivering innovations that are not only competitive on the international stage, but also relevant to societal needs—from low-emission agriculture and strengthening MSMEs through AI technology to health solutions for the younger generation. This is the result of students’ hard work, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and the strengthening mentorship ecosystem we continue to build.”
Dr. Alvi added that FEB UNRI encourages students to further develop their research and innovations toward practical implementation. “We hope this achievement will inspire other students to step forward, innovate, and uphold the good name of the university. Innovations like these need to be elevated—from competition entries to real-world implementation with tangible impact,” she continued.
This accomplishment further reinforces FEB UNRI’s commitment to fostering a productive, innovative, and collaborative academic culture, while preparing graduates who are adaptive to global challenges. FEB UNRI remains optimistic that student participation and success in various international competitions will continue to grow alongside strengthened mentoring, collaborative networks, and expanding platforms for achievement.
