Proud Moment! VR-Based Learning Innovation by UMS Lecturer Wins Gold Medal in Romania
Source: solobalapan.com
Editor: Andi Aris Widiyanto
SOLOBALAPAN.COM – Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS) has once again made a proud mark on the international stage.
Dias Aziz Pramudita, S.Pd., M.Cs., a lecturer from the Information Technology Education (PTI) Study Program at UMS, won a gold medal at the prestigious European Exhibition of Creativity and Innovation (EUROINVENT) 2025, held in Romania.
EUROINVENT is a global platform that showcases research and innovation from researchers across various countries. Dias presented his innovative project titled “VR Computhink”, a virtual reality-based learning media designed to enhance students’ computational thinking skills in a fun and immersive way.
“We designed this game in the form of a virtual world. Students are invited to complete informatics-themed challenges derived from Bebras Challenge questions, so they can learn computer science fundamentals in a more engaging way,” Dias said in an online interview on Tuesday (May 13).
Innovation Rooted in International Collaborative Research
VR Computhink stems from Dias’s doctoral dissertation and was further developed through a collaborative research effort between UMS, Yogyakarta State University (UNY), and Technische Universität Dresden (TUD) in Germany. The project was supported by the Tridharma Integration Grant (HIT) scheme under the UMS Research and Innovation Institute (LRI).
At EUROINVENT, participants had the opportunity to present their research in front of a multidisciplinary panel of judges. Dias delivered his presentation before three judges from the technology field, who evaluated the project based on its objectives, relevance, findings, and potential impact.
Even though it is still in prototype form, VR Computhink successfully captured the attention of both the judges and exhibition visitors.
“Initially, I only hoped to win a special award, so being granted a gold medal was extraordinary—especially considering many participants presented patented works,” he remarked.
Inspiring Students and Supporting Campus Internationalization
Dias expressed hope that his achievement would inspire UMS students and fellow academics.
“If a lecturer can achieve this, surely students can too. They even have more time to explore,” he emphasized.
He also encouraged the UMS academic community to become more actively involved in international competitions and global research grants, as part of a strategic effort to strengthen UMS’s position on the world education map.