UI Students Win Two International Awards for Adaptive Education Platform for Children with Chronic Illnesses

A team of students from the University of Indonesia (UI) has once again achieved global recognition by presenting Pulse-Ed, a digital innovation designed as an adaptive educational platform specifically for children suffering from chronic illnesses. The Pulse-Ed development team, led by Reztika Cahyani, stated that the platform was born from a concern for children who must battle chronic conditions yet still have the right to learn and develop. The awards serve as proof that the solution they offer is considered relevant, necessary, and has the potential to create broad social impact. At the International Business Competition held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, from 10 to 13 June 2026, this inclusive innovation successfully won two prestigious awards: Best Social Impact and Best Market Validation. The idea behind Pulse-Ed was motivated by the reality that physical limitations due to long-term illness often pose significant barriers for children in accessing formal education. Pulse-Ed was created as a solution to break down these barriers, ensuring children’s rights to continue learning and developing are guaranteed even whilst undergoing intensive treatment. The platform is not merely a conventional online learning system, but a disruptive innovation that prioritises flexibility and adaptability. The system is designed to adjust to the rhythm of treatment and the child’s psychological condition, so that the learning process can take place without adding to their mental burden. The Pulse-Ed development team was led by Reztika Cahyani, a Community Nursing Masters student at the UI Faculty of Nursing, who collaborated with Nadia Putri from the Faculty of Public Health and Aprilia Rambe from the Faculty of Psychology. This cross-disciplinary collaboration resulted in a holistic approach integrating aspects of community nursing, public health, and child psychology. With a deep understanding of the real needs of patients, families, and the support system surrounding the child, Pulse-Ed was designed to deliver a solution that is relevant, sustainable, and has a tangible impact. The success in winning the Best Market Validation award demonstrates that Pulse-Ed not only excels as a humanitarian idea but also possesses a mature, realistic business model ready for implementation in the global market. The judging panel assessed that this innovation is capable of addressing a niche need that has so far been overlooked by the conventional edutech industry. Meanwhile, the Best Social Impact title affirms the innovation’s primary orientation towards creating meaningful social value, proving that advanced technology can be optimised to meet the needs of society’s most vulnerable groups. UI Rector Heri Hermansyah also expressed his appreciation for the international achievement attained by UI students through the Pulse-Ed innovation. He stated that this achievement shows UI students are capable of presenting real solutions that stem from societal needs whilst competing at a global level. He added that Pulse-Ed is proof that cross-disciplinary research can produce innovations that are not only academically relevant but also have a broad social impact, and that UI will continue to support the creation of student works oriented towards sustainability, inclusive benefit, and contribution to the nation. The Pulse-Ed team’s departure to the international competition was also supported by the Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP).