USM PENANG, 6 June 2025 – The TehTarikTech team from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has secured First Prize in the Global Finals of the 2024-2025 Huawei ICT Competition for the Innovation Track.

The team consists of three third-year School of Computer Sciences students: Bok Wei Hong (team leader), Lim Miin Ning, and Naomi Tham Kah Mun, under the mentorship of Associate Professor Dr. Chong Yung Wey.

Before reaching the international stage, they first triumphed at the national level, earning the right to represent Malaysia in the Asia-Pacific regional competition, where they also clinched First Prize.

In the final round, they introduced an innovative system called "Third Eye Shield," designed to address the growing challenges of an aging global population.

This system integrates the Deepseek Large Language Model (LLM) with Huawei's cloud computing technology to detect emergencies, such as falls among the elderly, and send early alerts to caregivers.

Beyond safety, the innovation prioritises mental well-being for both the elderly and their caregivers through user-friendly smart interactions.

The project also emphasises ethical AI usage and data privacy protection.

Their forward-thinking approach aligns with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by making advanced eldercare technology more accessible and improving dignity and quality of life through early medical emergency detection.

This victory reaffirms the ability of young Malaysians to create high-impact technological innovations that can benefit communities worldwide.

The Huawei ICT Competition is an annual global event designed to cultivate ICT talent among university students.

The 2024-2025 Global Finals marked the 9th edition of the competition, attracting over 210,000 students and instructors from more than 2,000 colleges and universities across 100+ countries and regions.

Participants compete in three major tracks:

• Practice Track – Focuses on mastering cloud computing, big data, and AI.
• Innovation Track – Encourages solutions for real-world challenges in sectors like healthcare and education.
• Programming Track – Tests coding and algorithmic problem-solving skills.

The competition aims to empower students with cutting-edge ICT knowledge, foster innovation, and drive digital transformation worldwide.

The Huawei ICT 2024-2025 Global Finals were held in Shenzhen, China from 20 – 24 May 2025, bringing together top teams from national and regional rounds to compete for prestigious awards.

Text: Tan Ewe Hoe/Photos: TehTarikTech team