For their project focused on waste management, students from Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology won first place in the recently concluded Asean Data Science Explorers national finals. Team Incognito composed of Jairus Cairo Libunao and Alleah Eunice Tuliao will represent the Philippines in the regional finals set in November.

The Asean Data Science Explorers (ASEANDSE) is a flagship program under the Asean Foundation’s partnership with software firm SAP to engage and prepare today’s youth for the future. ASEANDSE is a regional data analytics competition targeting tertiary students with Asean nationality across the 10 member states.

A total of 852 students across the Philippines competed in the national finals, with 4,563 students and lecturers trained in SAP Analytics Cloud in 2020.

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The three winners were judged based on their ability to design the best all-rounded concept that tackles Asean socio-economic issues, driven by data insights. The judging criteria look at the creativity, feasibility, innovation, and the team’s ability to demonstrate the solution’s implementation.

Kyle Anne Villariza and Genesis Daquinan of Team Gugma from the University of the Philippines Visayas emerged as the runner-up. Their project was designed to tackle the overexploitation issue of the Asean fisheries.

Runners-up

Team Board Men which is composed of Gabriel Carlo Gamulo and John Michel Lee from Ateneo de Manila University, placed second runner-up for their project on Neural Community.

“Together with the Asean Foundation, we at SAP strongly encourage the youth to use their newly learned skills from SAP Analytics Cloud to create sustainable innovations for current social and economic issues. Also, youth should utilize these skills for their self-development,” said Edler Panlilio, managing director, SAP Philippines. “Digital skills are more relevant now in the middle of our current pandemic situation and as we look towards recovery. We are pleased to see that youths in Asean can make a difference in that goal and improve people’s lives.”

“Asean DSE is the embodiment of our commitment with SAP to empower youth in the region with future-ready skills that will allow them to thrive and become globally competitive during this difficult period and in the years to come,” said Dr. Yang Mee Eng, the ASEAN Foundation’s Executive Director. “We are very happy to see so many innovative data-driven proposals presented by all National Finalists today. It is a testament to what our youths can do when exposed to and equipped with relevant digital skills and provided with an immersive platform to showcase their talents. We believe that our ASEAN youths can create impactful solutions for the community to prosper if given the opportunity.”

Since its inception in 2017, Asean DSE has empowered over 16,259 students, 1,420 lecturers from 370 higher education institutes in the region with data analytics skills. The program engages youth to develop data-driven solutions that highlight six Sustainable Development Goals namely good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, decent work and economic growth, industry, innovation and infrastructure, and sustainable cities and communities by harnessing SAP’s Analytics Cloud software.