Banda Aceh — One thing that never fails to captivate in the realm of higher education is when students tackle real-world problems with smart, tech-based solutions. This is precisely what a student team from the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) at Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK) has demonstrated by winning 2nd place in the national Sandbox 2.0 competition, under the Hack4Health category, organized by the IEEE ITB Student Branch.
The team is composed of five students from different study programs: Glenn Hakim (Informatics) as the team leader, along with his peers Muhammad Bintang Indra Hidayat, Muhammad Habil Aswad, and Ahmad Syah Ramadhan (all from Informatics), and Musliadi from the Statistics program. Fueled by a spirit of collaboration and social responsibility, they developed a platform named “DarahTanyoe” an innovation aimed at creating a more efficient, integrated, and responsive blood distribution system.
From Idea to MVP: The Long Journey Toward Innovation
The Sandbox 2.0 competition was far from ordinary. It was held in two stages: a bi-weekly online session spanning more than a month, and a final offline Hackday session at GSG Salman, Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB). The competition challenged participants to think critically and build real solutions from scratch.
The bi-weekly session ran from February 11 to March 22, 2025, and was divided into three phases. Each stage presented different challenges, from initial idea development, user interface design, to creating a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) ready for testing. During this process, the USK team received intensive mentoring from professionals in both technology and public health sectors.
Throughout each phase, the “DarahTanyoe” platform continued to evolve. It was designed to tackle long-standing issues in blood donation, such as the difficulty of finding donors in critical times and the uneven distribution of blood across regions. “DarahTanyoe” emerged as a digital ecosystem connecting donors, recipients, hospitals, and key partners like the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) in real time.
20 Hours Non-Stop on Hackday: The Ultimate Challenge
After advancing through the online rounds, the FMIPA USK team flew to Bandung for the final Hackday session, held on April 11–12, 2025. Here, finalists were tasked with developing the final version of their project within 20 continuous hours before presenting it to the judging panel.
Held at GSG Salman ITB, the atmosphere was intense and brimming with energy. Behind worktables cluttered with laptops, sketch boards, and coffee cups, teams from top universities across Indonesia worked tirelessly to refine their innovations. The USK team, however, stood out for their solid teamwork and deep understanding of the issues they addressed.
Their final presentation earned praise from the judges not only for the technological sophistication but also for the social sensitivity and practicality of the solution. “DarahTanyoe” was deemed ready for real-world implementation, with the potential to significantly impact the national blood donation system.
Appreciation from University Leadership
In response to this achievement, the Rector of Universitas Syiah Kuala, Prof. Dr. Ir. Marwan, expressed his sincere appreciation to the FMIPA student team for bringing pride to the university on a national level. He hopes that this accomplishment will inspire all USK students to create meaningful work and respond to societal challenges through innovation.
“The Rector, through each faculty dean, strongly encourages the facilitation of such activities. Students must be guided technically so they are truly prepared to compete and win,” he emphasized.
He also highlighted the importance of collaboration among lecturers, faculties, and support units to ensure student innovations continue to grow and shine on national and international stages.
Pride for the Faculty and University
The achievement was warmly welcomed by the faculty leadership. Dean of FMIPA USK, Prof. Dr. Taufik Fuadi Abidin, S.Si, M.Tech, stated that this success is a source of pride not only for FMIPA but for USK as a whole.
“This achievement is something we are truly proud of. It proves that our students are capable of competing nationally. What matters is how we nurture and prepare them well. Every student has great potential to succeed if given the right space and support,” said Prof. Taufik.
He also emphasized the need to build a campus innovation ecosystem so that more young talents can emerge and confidently showcase their ideas on national and international stages.
More Than Just Winning: Representing the Spirit of Innovation from Aceh
For Glenn and his teammates, this victory is proof that students from Aceh especially FMIPA USK can compete and contribute meaningfully at the national level. Their innovation was not merely an academic assignment but born out of concern for public health issues that are often overlooked.
“We wanted to prove that impactful innovation can come from Aceh too. Hopefully, ‘DarahTanyoe’ marks the beginning of many future initiatives for the greater good,” said Glenn Hakim on behalf of his team.
Inspiring the Next Generation of Innovators
This achievement serves as a reminder that impactful innovation often begins with the courage to care and take action. The FMIPA USK team has shown that with interdisciplinary collaboration, proper guidance, and an unwavering spirit, students can become agents of change who bring real benefits to society.
The innovation behind DarahTanyoe reflects a tangible contribution to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). By developing a digital application and health information system, the FMIPA USK team has created an innovative infrastructure within the medical sector. This is not just an example of advanced technology, but a sustainable solution to real social problems.
Furthermore, the success of this platform highlights the critical role of cross-sector partnerships, involving hospitals, PMI, and strategic stakeholders, in shaping a responsive and inclusive health service ecosystem. This synergy embodies the spirit of global partnerships essential for delivering sustainable, high-impact solutions.
May this story inspire more students to create, tackle today’s challenges, and demonstrate that from the halls of academia, real solutions for the future can be born.
