Team APU wins ‘Shell Selamat Sampai’ Varsity Challenge

Shell’s commitment to road safety reaches a new pinnacle with the announcement of Team APU from Asia Pacific University as the grand winner of the #ShellSelamatSampai Varsity Challenge 2023.

The challenge, themed ‘INNOVATE! CAPTIVATE! SAFE LIVES!’, serves as a platform for tertiary education students in Malaysia to address road safety issues through innovative solutions, with a focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Road safety beyond traffic rules

Cindy Lopez, General Manager of Corporate Relations at Shell Malaysia, highlighted the broader perspective of road safety beyond traffic rules. “Road safety is more than just following traffic rules.

Every year, countless lives are lost due to reckless driving, negligence, and lack of awareness,” she remarked. Lopez emphasized Shell’s belief in instilling road safety values in the youth to empower them to introduce innovative measures that enhance road safety culture.

The challenge saw participation from universities and colleges across Malaysia, with Team APU emerging victorious among five finalist teams, which included students from Universiti Malaya, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, and Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka.

Team APU and The Guardian Defense Unit

The winning project, named Guardian Defense Unit, was conceived by Team APU members Aaron Raj Bhatti, Cajun Tai Ka Joon, Ronak Robert Vijai, and Sharen Chrisan Fabian Perera.

The Guardian Defense Unit aims to play a crucial role in preventing accidents and reducing the severity of injuries, specifically focusing on enhancing the safety of motorcycle transportation.

Expressing gratitude to Shell’s #ShellSelamatSampai programme, Team APU acknowledged the impact of innovative thinking tools and problem-solving methodologies provided during the competition.

The team expressed their commitment to spreading awareness about their project and empowering a larger segment of society to contribute to mitigating road-related accidents.

The 2023 grand finale of #ShellSelamatSampai Varsity Challenge was adjudicated by a distinguished panel, including experts such as Ir. Ts En Azhar bin Hamzah, Director, Road User Behavioural Change Research Centre; Ir. Mohd Yusop bin Mohamad, Director, Automotive Engineering Division, Road Transport Department (JPJ); and Mr Harnamdav Singh, High-Risk Transport Road Safety Advisor, Shell Malaysia.

Reflecting on Shell’s road safety journey in Malaysia, which began over six decades ago, the #ShellSelamatSampai programme has evolved to actively engage with government stakeholders.

The Varsity Challenge, introduced in 2017, demonstrates Shell’s dedication to nurturing innovative solutions and building a road-safe culture among Malaysia’s youth. Over the years, the challenge has inspired young minds to propose creative ideas that contribute to enhancing road safety conditions across the country.