{"id":59226,"date":"2026-02-19T10:06:08","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T02:06:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/qiu.edu.my\/cri\/?p=59226"},"modified":"2026-02-19T10:06:31","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T02:06:31","slug":"qiu-researchers-win-dual-awards-at-international-innovation-competition-with-groundbreaking-app-for-children-with-special-needs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/qiu.edu.my\/cri\/2026\/02\/19\/qiu-researchers-win-dual-awards-at-international-innovation-competition-with-groundbreaking-app-for-children-with-special-needs\/","title":{"rendered":"QIU Researchers Win Dual Awards at International Innovation Competition with Groundbreaking App for Children with Special Needs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>A research team from Quest International University\u2019s (QIU)&nbsp;<strong>Centre for Research &amp; Innovation<\/strong>&nbsp;has once again made the university proud with an inspiring project that combines compassion, innovation, and technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The team\u2014<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/qiu.edu.my\/experts\/ms-tilagavati-subramaniam\/\">Associate Professor Dr Tilagavati Subramaniam<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/qiu.edu.my\/experts\/ms-anna-arokia-nathen\/\">Ms Anna Arokia Nathen<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/qiu.edu.my\/experts\/dr-ruuhina-binti-mohd-sani\/\">Dr Ruuhina Sani<\/a>, and&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/xn--heres%20a%20polished%20and%20publication-ready%20article%20for%20qius%20website-jj24c3b:%20%20---%20%20\/##%20QIU%20Researchers%20Win%20Dual%20Awards%20at%20International%20Innovation%20Competition%20with%20Groundbreaking%20App%20for%20Special%20Needs%20Children%20%20A%20research%20team%20from%20Quest%20International%20University%E2%80%99s%20(QIU)%20**Centre%20for%20Research%20&amp;%20Innovation**%20has%20once%20again%20made%20the%20university%20proud%20with%20an%20inspiring%20project%20that%20combines%20compassion,%20innovation,%20and%20technology.%20%20The%20team%E2%80%94**Associate%20Professor%20Dr.%20Tilagavati%20Subramaniam**,%20**Ms.%20Anna%20Arokia%20Nathen**,%20**Dr.%20Ruuhina%20Sani**,%20and%20**Dr.%20Thinesh**%E2%80%94participated%20in%20the%20**International%20Innovation%20Competition%20(INNOCOM%20VI%202025)**,%20organised%20by%20the%20**Academic%20International%20Dialogue%20Academy**%20in%20collaboration%20with%20**Universitas%20Mercu%20Buana**,%20**Universitas%20Negeri%20Surabaya%20(UNESA)**,%20and%20**Universitas%20Nasional**,%20Indonesia.%20%20Held%20from%20**10%20September%202025**,%20the%20competition%20featured%2016%20special%20awards%20across%20two%20main%20categories%E2%80%94**Innovation%20Product**%20and%20**Innovation%20Idea%20(Poster%20Presentation)**%E2%80%94drawing%20participation%20from%20**70%20institutions**%20across%20Malaysia%20and%20Indonesia.%20%20Representing%20QIU%20in%20the%20**Innovation%20Idea%20Category%20(Education%20and%20Teaching%20sub-category)**,%20the%20team%E2%80%99s%20project%20titled%20*%E2%80%9CSAFE%20SENSE:%20A%20Gamified%20Mobile%20Application%20for%20Sexual%20Harassment%20Prevention%20Among%20Special%20Needs%20Children%E2%80%9D*%20impressed%20the%20judges%20and%20earned%20**two%20major%20honours**:%20%20*%20%F0%9F%8F%86%20**Gold%20Innovation%20Award**%20(Education%20and%20Teaching%20%E2%80%93%20Poster%20Presentation,%20Academic)%20*%20%F0%9F%8F%86%20**Best%20Innovation%20Extended%20Abstract%20Award**%20%20###%20Empowering%20Special%20Needs%20Children%20Through%20Gamified%20Learning%20%20SAFE%20SENSE%20is%20a%20pioneering%20**gamified%20mobile%20application**%20designed%20to%20help%20**special%20needs%20children%20recognise,%20respond%20to,%20and%20report%20unsafe%20touch**%20through%20immersive,%20scenario-based%20learning.%20%20Unlike%20traditional%20awareness-based%20teaching,%20the%20app%20leverages%20**visual%20storytelling**,%20**decision-based%20gameplay**,%20and%20**real-life%20simulations**%20set%20in%20familiar%20environments%20such%20as%20schools,%20homes,%20and%20parks.%20Developed%20with%20input%20from%20**special%20educators%20and%20therapists**,%20the%20app%20ensures%20accessibility%20for%20children%20with%20**cognitive%20and%20sensory%20challenges**,%20transforming%20passive%20learning%20into%20**active%20skill-building%20experiences**.%20%20The%20app%E2%80%99s%20design%20stems%20from%20an%20earlier%20**Augmented%20Reality%20(AR)%20pilot%20study**%20led%20by%20the%20same%20team,%20which%20showed%20that%20interactive%20technology%20can%20significantly%20enhance%20engagement%20and%20understanding%20among%20special%20needs%20children.%20That%20AR-based%20concept%E2%80%94also%20focused%20on%20safe%20and%20unsafe%20touch%E2%80%94earned%20QIU%E2%80%99s%20researchers%20the%20**Overall%20Best%20Exhibitor%20Award%202024**%20for%20its%20innovation%20and%20educational%20impact.%20%20Building%20on%20that%20success,%20SAFE%20SENSE%20evolves%20the%20concept%20into%20a%20**comprehensive%20mobile%20platform**%20that%20can%20be%20scaled%20to%20reach%20more%20children,%20caregivers,%20and%20educators%20nationwide.%20%20###%20Promoting%20Inclusion%20and%20Protection%20%20Beyond%20its%20educational%20value,%20SAFE%20SENSE%20supports%20**parents,%20teachers,%20and%20caregivers**%20by%20providing%20structured%20guidance%20on%20discussing%20body%20safety.%20It%20promotes%20independence,%20critical%20decision-making,%20and%20self-protection%20skills%20among%20children%E2%80%94aligning%20with%20**United%20Nations%20Sustainable%20Development%20Goals%20(SDG%204:%20Quality%20Education%20and%20SDG%2010:%20Reduced%20Inequalities)**,%20as%20well%20as%20the%20**Malaysia%20Madani**%20framework%20on%20inclusive%20education%20and%20child%20protection.%20%20Importantly,%20SAFE%20SENSE%20is%20**Malaysia%E2%80%99s%20first%20gamified%20mobile%20app**%20tailored%20specifically%20for%20special%20needs%20children%20on%20body%20safety.%20Its%20**sensory-sensitive%20design**%20and%20**therapist-guided%20accessibility%20features**%20mark%20a%20significant%20advancement%20in%20inclusive%20digital%20education.%20%20###%20Recognition%20and%20Future%20Aspirations%20%20The%20QIU%20team%E2%80%99s%20achievements%20stand%20out%20among%20strong%20competition%20from%20institutions%20such%20as%20**Universiti%20Malaysia%20Sabah**,%20**Universiti%20Teknologi%20MARA%20(UiTM)%20Perlis**,%20**Universiti%20Sains%20Islam%20Malaysia%20(USIM)**,%20**Universiti%20Teknologi%20Sarawak**,%20**Politeknik%20Nilai**,%20**Politeknik%20Ungku%20Omar**,%20**Politeknik%20Kota%20Kinabalu**,%20and%20their%20Indonesian%20counterparts.%20%20The%20awards%20were%20announced%20during%20the%20**online%20closing%20ceremony%20and%20innovation%20talk%20on%208%20October%202025**,%20where%20the%20team%E2%80%99s%20work%20was%20praised%20for%20its%20creativity,%20relevance,%20and%20potential%20real-world%20impact.%20%20Reflecting%20on%20the%20win,%20the%20researchers%20shared%20their%20excitement%20and%20commitment%20to%20transforming%20SAFE%20SENSE%20from%20concept%20to%20reality%E2%80%94bringing%20much-needed%20support%20to%20children,%20families,%20and%20educators%20in%20the%20realm%20of%20**body%20safety%20education**.%20%20%3E%20%E2%80%9CThis%20recognition%20motivates%20us%20to%20continue%20innovating%20with%20purpose.%20Our%20goal%20is%20to%20create%20a%20safe,%20empowering%20digital%20environment%20where%20every%20child%E2%80%94regardless%20of%20ability%E2%80%94can%20learn%20to%20protect%20themselves,%E2%80%9D%20said%20the%20team.%20%20Their%20success%20underscores%20QIU%E2%80%99s%20mission%20to%20champion%20research%20that%20**bridges%20innovation%20and%20social%20good**,%20empowering%20communities%20through%20education,%20inclusion,%20and%20empathy.%20%20---%20%20Would%20you%20like%20me%20to%20create%20a%20**shorter%20version%20(around%20150%E2%80%93200%20words)**%20for%20a%20social%20media%20caption%20or%20news%20teaser%20to%20accompany%20this%20article%20on%20QIU%E2%80%99s%20channels?\">Dr Thineshwaran Gunasegaran<\/a><\/strong>\u2014participated in the&nbsp;<strong>International Innovation Competition (INNOCOM VI 2025)<\/strong>, organised by the&nbsp;<strong>Academic International Dialogue Academy<\/strong>&nbsp;in collaboration with&nbsp;<strong>Universitas Mercu Buana<\/strong>,&nbsp;<strong>Universitas Negeri Surabaya (UNESA)<\/strong>, and&nbsp;<strong>Universitas Nasional<\/strong>, Indonesia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Representing QIU in the&nbsp;<strong>Innovation Idea Category (Education and Teaching sub-category)<\/strong>, the team\u2019s project titled&nbsp;<em>\u201cSAFE SENSE: A Gamified Mobile Application for Sexual Harassment Prevention Among Special Needs Children\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;impressed the judges and earned&nbsp;<strong>two major honours<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\ud83c\udfc6\u00a0<strong>Gold Innovation Award<\/strong>\u00a0(Education and Teaching \u2013 Poster Presentation, Academic)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\ud83c\udfc6\u00a0<strong>Best Innovation Extended Abstract Award<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The competition featured 16 special awards across two main categories\u2014Innovation Product and Innovation Idea (Poster Presentation)\u2014drawing participation from 70 institutions across Malaysia and Indonesia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The QIU team\u2019s achievements stood out among strong competition from institutions such as&nbsp;<strong>Universiti Malaysia Sabah<\/strong>,&nbsp;<strong>Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Perlis<\/strong>,&nbsp;<strong>Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM)<\/strong>,&nbsp;<strong>Universiti Teknologi Sarawak<\/strong>, and their Indonesian counterparts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>SAFE SENSE is a pioneering gamified mobile application designed to help children with special needs recognise, respond to, and report unsafe touch through immersive, scenario-based learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlike traditional awareness-based teaching, the app leverages visual storytelling, decision-based gameplay, and real-life simulations set in familiar environments such as schools, homes, and parks. Developed with input from special educators and therapists, the app ensures accessibility for children with cognitive and sensory challenges, transforming passive learning into active skill-building experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The app\u2019s design stems from an earlier Augmented Reality (AR) pilot study led by the same team, which showed that interactive technology can significantly enhance engagement and understanding among special needs children. That AR-based concept\u2014also focused on safe and unsafe touch\u2014earned QIU\u2019s researchers the Overall Best Exhibitor Award 2024 for its innovation and educational impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Building on that success, SAFE SENSE evolves the concept into a&nbsp;<strong>comprehensive mobile platform<\/strong>&nbsp;that can be scaled to reach more children, caregivers, and educators nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beyond its educational value, SAFE SENSE supports parents, teachers, and caregivers by providing structured guidance on discussing body safety. It promotes independence, critical decision-making, and self-protection skills among children\u2014aligning with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities), as well as the Malaysia Madani framework on inclusive education and child protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Importantly, SAFE SENSE is Malaysia\u2019s first gamified mobile app that focuses on body safety and is tailored specifically for children with special needs. Its sensory-sensitive design and therapist-guided accessibility features mark a significant advancement in inclusive digital education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Reflecting on the win, the researchers shared their excitement and commitment to transforming SAFE SENSE from concept to reality\u2014bringing much-needed support to children, families, and educators in the realm of&nbsp;<strong>body safety education<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u201cThis recognition motivates us to continue innovating with purpose. Our goal is to create a safe, empowering digital environment where every child\u2014regardless of ability\u2014can learn to protect themselves,\u201d<\/strong>&nbsp;said Dr Tilagavati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Their success underscores QIU\u2019s mission to champion research that&nbsp;<strong>bridges innovation and social good<\/strong>, empowering communities through education, inclusion, and empathy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A research team from Quest International University\u2019s (QIU)&nbsp;Centre for Research &amp; Innovation&nbsp;has once again made the university proud with an inspiring project that combines compassion, innovation, and technology. The team\u2014Associate Professor Dr Tilagavati Subramaniam,&nbsp;Ms Anna Arokia Nathen,&nbsp;Dr Ruuhina Sani, and&nbsp;Dr Thineshwaran Gunasegaran\u2014participated in the&nbsp;International Innovation Competition (INNOCOM VI 2025), organised by the&nbsp;Academic International Dialogue Academy&nbsp;in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":59227,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-59226","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-faculty-of-integrated-life-sciences"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/qiu.edu.my\/cri\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59226","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/qiu.edu.my\/cri\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/qiu.edu.my\/cri\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qiu.edu.my\/cri\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qiu.edu.my\/cri\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=59226"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/qiu.edu.my\/cri\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59226\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":59228,"href":"https:\/\/qiu.edu.my\/cri\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59226\/revisions\/59228"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qiu.edu.my\/cri\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/59227"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/qiu.edu.my\/cri\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=59226"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qiu.edu.my\/cri\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=59226"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qiu.edu.my\/cri\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=59226"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}