YOGYAKARTA, June 5, 2026 – Students from the Indonesian Institute of the Arts (ISI) Yogyakarta have once again achieved proud accomplishments at the international level. Three students from various departments have successfully brought pride to Indonesia in the AI Ready ASEAN Youth Challenge 2026, securing the 3rd Place Winner Regional, the Most Voted People’s Choice Award, and a prize worth $300 through technological innovation in disaster mitigation based on Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The three students are Gregorius Guntur Jembar Wicaksono (Product Design, class of 2023), Nuraini Yusmaida (Interior Design, class of 2024), and Carlos Septiawan (Visual Communication Design, class of 2025). They are part of the IndoAI Changemakers Team, representing Indonesia in a regional competition that brings together the best young talents from ASEAN countries.
This achievement was made through the development of Evacuation Mesh (EvacMesh), an AI-based emergency communication and evacuation navigation system utilizing Bluetooth mesh technology, designed to help people stay connected during disasters, especially volcanic eruptions.
Unlike conventional communication applications that rely on the internet network, EvacMesh allows users to share real-time field condition information, receive situation updates, and obtain safe evacuation route recommendations, even when main communication networks are disrupted or unavailable.
The innovation was born out of concern for the various natural disasters that frequently occur in the Southeast Asian region, and it also serves as an answer to the need for a more resilient, inclusive, and accessible emergency response communication system for the community.
The success of the ISI Yogyakarta team is even more special because this competition was participated in by thousands of participants from 11 ASEAN member countries, namely Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam. Before advancing to the regional level, the team first succeeded in entering the Top 10 Indonesia, then was selected as the representative of Indonesia to compete with the best young innovators from various ASEAN countries.
The AI Ready ASEAN Youth Challenge 2026 is itself part of the AI Ready ASEAN program, which is supported by various international institutions, including AI Singapore, the ASEAN Foundation, Google.org, and a number of other strategic partners. This program aims to increase artificial intelligence literacy, utilization, and innovation among Southeast Asia's youth in order to address various social and sustainable development challenges.
This achievement also demonstrates that higher education institutions for art play a strategic role in the development of technology oriented towards humanity. Through a human-centered design approach, ISI Yogyakarta students have been able to present innovative solutions that are not only technologically superior but also relevant to community needs.
Gregorius, Nuraini, and Carlos's success is a tangible representation of higher art education's transformation to adapt to the times. The collaboration between product design, interior design, and visual communication design disciplines has resulted in an innovation that demonstrates how art, design, and technology can synergize to create a concrete social impact.
This achievement further strengthens ISI Yogyakarta's position as an art higher education institution that not only produces creative individuals in the arts and culture fields but also fosters young innovators capable of addressing global challenges through a multidisciplinary approach.
Amidst the acceleration of artificial intelligence technology development, these achievements are proof that students from ISI Yogyakarta are capable of competing on the international stage and presenting solutions that contribute to the wider community. The EvacMesh innovation shows that creativity, empathy, and the utilization of technology can go hand in hand to produce breakthroughs with a real impact.
This achievement is expected to inspire the academic community of ISI Yogyakarta to continue creating, innovating, and expanding their contributions globally. More than just a competitive achievement, this success affirms that art and design play a crucial role in building a safer, more inclusive, and sustainable future through the responsible utilization of technology.
EN 
ID