Team Dastronaut from RMIT University Viet Nam will represent the country at the virtual Regional Finals of ASEAN Data Science Explorers (ASEAN DSE) 2021 slated for October 6, 2021.

Team Dastronaut (Photo: ASEAN DSE)

The team came first at the ASEAN DSE 2021 National Finals held online recently. It was followed by two teams from the British International School, and Foreign Trade University and Vietnam National University. The three winners were judged based on their ability to design a best all-round concept that tackles ASEAN socio-economic issues, driven by data insights. The judging criteria look at the creativity, feasibility, innovation, and the team’s ability to demonstrate the solution’s implementation.

Team Dastronaut comprises Phan Le Minh An and Vuong Anh Chien, whose project is aimed at revolutionising urban waste through a combination of mandatory rules and incentives to promote trash sorting habits from residents, setting up an e-commerce waste app – where companies can log in and purchase waste products as input materials for their manufacturing process.

Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, ASEAN DSE continues to equip youth across the region with essential digital skills by organising its key activities, such as enablement sessions and data analytics competitions, virtually. Running for the fifth year, ASEAN DSE has a renewed focus on sustainable development goals (SDGs) that target climate and sustainability.

In addition, the programme has also collaborated with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in ten ASEAN countries to deliver in-person enablement sessions to youth with limited access to technology and youth with disabilities.

Speaking at the national finals, Ambassador Nguyen Hai Bang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to ASEAN, said that ASEAN DSE is a learning platform for young people, helping them hone important skills of the 21st century such as digital science, creativity, teamwork and effective communication, and leveraging these skills to deliver data-driven solutions to help ASEAN overcome socio-economic challenges and achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Source: VNA