Mataram, University of Mataram — Five students from the University of Mataram (Unram) have proudly represented West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) and brought distinction to the region by competing in the GO! Digital Cultural Innovation Competition, organized by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia.The national-level competition serves as a platform for young innovators to develop and showcase digital solutions aimed at preserving and promoting Indonesia’s rich cultural heritage, while encouraging creativity and technological innovation among the younger generation.

The five students come from two different study programs. Aliya Rahmawati and Ikrima Fina Hayati are from the Sociology Study Program, while Muh. Rizky Destiawansyah, Muhammad Rendi Maulana, and Rafly Ridho’ Sukardi are from the Informatics Study Program.

In the competition, the Unram team successfully advanced through a highly competitive national selection process involving 627 registered teams from across Indonesia. The selection was conducted in several stages, beginning with the screening of the top 50 teams and ultimately narrowing down to the top 10 student-category teams. Among these finalists, Unram was selected as one of the teams representing West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) at the national level.

Through the digital innovation they developed, the Unram team secured a Joint Winner title in the Digital Cultural Innovation category, with the final stage of the competition held in Jakarta.

Muh. Rizky Destiawansyah explained that the achievement was the result of a long and rigorous process carried out with strong commitment and teamwork. “This accomplishment reflects the selection stages and learning process we went through together. We hope that the digital innovation we developed can be implemented in schools across NTB as a home-based learning medium, enabling young generations to recognize, appreciate, and take pride in their cultural heritage from an early age,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Aliya Rahmawati shared that her involvement in the competition provided valuable experience, particularly in integrating social and cultural perspectives with digital technology. “Through this competition, I learned that cultural preservation can be pursued through approaches that are more relevant to today’s generation. Digital innovation serves as a bridge between cultural values and the needs of modern society,” she explained.

A similar sentiment was expressed by Ikrima Fina Hayati, who conveyed her pride in contributing to the representation of NTB at the national level. “This opportunity is deeply meaningful to me. We did not only present an innovation, but also carried our regional cultural identity to be introduced and recognized more widely at the national level,” she remarked.

From a technical development perspective, Muhammad Rendi Maulana explained that cross-disciplinary collaboration was a key factor in the team’s success. “The collaboration between students from the social sciences and informatics strengthened this innovation, both in terms of cultural concepts and technological implementation. It has been an extremely valuable learning experience for us,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Rafly Ridho’ Sukardi expressed his hope that the innovation would not end at the competition stage alone. “We hope this innovation can continue to be developed and genuinely utilized by the wider community, particularly students, as an engaging and accessible medium for cultural education,” he stated.

This achievement is expected to inspire other Unram students to continue innovating, engage in cross-disciplinary collaboration, and confidently participate in national-level competitions to elevate regional cultural potential through digital technology.