THE ANZ Pacific Innovation Challenge 2017 brought out some great ideas and inventions with two teams from the University of the South Pacific coming out winners.
A statement from USP yesterday said two teams from USP were declared the winner and second runner-up at the ANZ Pacific Innovation Challenge 2017 held at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva on Saturday.
It said the teams Chai-Yo and Tranquility were two of six teams of USP who competed against teams from Fiji National University and University of Fiji.
According to the statement the winning team proposed a mobile application that would assist tourists reach any destination in Fiji by guiding the tourists along the way.
“For instance, if the tourists have to take a number of buses to reach their destination, the application will inform them which buses to take and where the checkpoints are to get on and off,” team member Ram Singh explained.
He said the application would also provide contact details of people/offices, which may come in handy in times of emergencies, for example, names and contact details of nearest restaurants, hotels, emergency services and villages close to the tourists.
Organised in partnership with USP, the challenge required students to provide solution to the topic “Digitalising Pacific – uncover barriers to the uptake of digital channels in the financial ecosystem, to help our people and communities thrive.”
USP dean of faculty of science, technology and environment Dr Anjeela Jokhan said she was delighted to note that the students not only came out victorious at the challenge, but also came up with something which ANZ values.
“In general, innovation has become so important right across the world and in the Pacific particularly because it leads to development,” Dr Jokhan said.
Dr Jokhan said “one thing that is lacking in the Pacific is such type of engagements where students really need to test out their capabilities.”
The team will plan the idea and pitch it to the stakeholders and get help from USP lecturers and experts on how to go about implementing this idea.
