Mataram, University of Mataram – Student of Communication Science Study Program of University of Mataram (Unram), Faro Ferdinan Hariyadi, won a grant of 5,000 SGD (Rp59,000,000) from the National University of Singapore (NUS). The grant was obtained through his project entitled “FINable: FINancially Empowering Youth Card Game”. Faro and his team created an educational card game that aims to improve financial literacy among ASEAN youth.

To realise the project, Faro collaborated with seven other students from various universities in the Asian region. They are Jaren G. Quegan (Cagayan State University – Carig Campus), Pichamon Nopdara (Mahidol University), Ma. Angelica Grace Rapal (University of the Philippines – Diliman), and Matthew Chang (The University of Hong Kong). Then, there are Justine Marie G. De Leon (De La Salle University), Seavlang Phou (American University of Phnom Penh), and Indri Pausilia Wijaya (Hasanuddin University).

The Faro project was selected after a rigorous selection process. Beginning with the selection of the main idea, each group was given two days to prepare a proposal and video presentation. Furthermore, eight teams, including Faro’s team, were declared as grant recipients. Faro will complete its project within three months of being announced as a grantee on 11 October 2024.

The NUS grant program is part of the Asian Undergraduate Symposium (AUS) activities in Singapore, 1-13 July 2024. The AUS program engages students from across Asia and discusses solutions to regional challenges, especially Interconnected Communities which includes Climate Change & Sustainability, Needs & Wants, and Diversity & Inclusion. Through this program, NUS provides participants with the opportunity to exchange cultures, deepen knowledge, and work in cross-national teams.

Faro was one of three Unram Communication Science students who participated in the event. The other students were Baiq Aulia Anita Ningrum and Alifah Azahara. Besides Faro, other Unram students who also successfully received grants from NUS were Ratu Agung Satya Dharma from the International Relations Study Program and Dewi Wulan Suci Indana from the Agricultural Engineering Study Program.