BANDUNG, UNIKOM — The Universitas Komputer Indonesia (UNIKOM) continues to develop innovative learning approaches to ensure that students not only master theory but are also able to apply their knowledge to address various real-world problems in society and the industrial sector. One such innovation was initiated by Dr. Agus Mulyana, S.Kom., M.T., a lecturer in the Computer Engineering Program at the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science (FTIK) at UNIKOM, a graduate of the Doctoral Program in Computer Science at IPB University and the Valedictorian of the Doctoral Program with a GPA of 3.97 at the Phase III Commencement Ceremony for the 2025/2026 Academic Year at IPB University. Armed with his academic expertise and experience in the field of technology, Dr. Agus initiated the implementation of the Capstone Project as a model for end-of-semester evaluation and an alternative to the written Final Semester Exam (UAS) for students in the Computer Engineering Study Program, Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science (FTIK) at UNIKOM.
The culmination of the Capstone Project Final Exam took place on Monday, August 3, 2026, in Classroom 4507 on UNIKOM’s Campus I. This event marked the final stage of a project-based learning sequence that students had undertaken throughout the second semester of the 2025–2026 academic year. During the final presentation, each group had the opportunity to present the project they had developed before a panel of judges. The presentation served as a platform for students to explain the problem addressed, user needs, the innovations offered, the technological architecture, the prototype’s functionality, and the potential for future development of the solution.
After all groups delivered their presentations, the event continued with the judging process based on the established Capstone Project evaluation rubric. The evaluation was comprehensive, taking into account aspects such as the problem statement and user needs, user validation, innovation, the solution’s relevance to the problem, technical architecture, prototype functionality, UI/UX, security, business model, market potential, presentation skills, and the team’s ability to answer questions and execute the project.
The series of activities then concluded with the announcement of the results and the Capstone Project winners based on the cumulative scores from all assessment components. This mechanism provided students with the experience of not only producing a project but also professionally defending their ideas and developed products before the judges.
The Capstone Project is implemented in several courses taught by Dr. Agus Mulyana, S.Kom., M.T., namely Internet of Things (IoT) Technology, Android Mobile Programming, and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). This learning model is designed to integrate the various materials students have studied into a single project that addresses real-world problems in the community or industry.
According to Dr. Agus, the increasingly rapid changes in the worlds of technology and industry require universities to develop more adaptive learning models. It is not enough for students to be equipped with theory and lab work alone; they also need experience in identifying problems, designing solutions, working in teams, and understanding career and professional paths after completing their education. “A capstone project is a mechanism for synthesizing course material through a mini-project approach based on actual social conditions in the local community or industry,” explained Dr. Agus.
Through this approach, students are not merely completing assignments to earn grades; rather, they are challenged to identify and understand real-world problems occurring around them. These problems are then formulated into a project that yields solutions grounded in the academic knowledge they have acquired.
In practice, students use two main approaches: design thinking and computational thinking. Both approaches are used to help students understand problems systematically, define user needs, and develop relevant and implementable solutions.
Interestingly, student groups in the Capstone Project are not formed like typical assignment groups. They are guided to build a mini-startup, so that each member has roles and responsibilities that mirror a company’s organizational structure. Students can take on roles such as CEO, CTO, CFO, or other positions based on the needs of the team and the project being developed.
This approach simultaneously builds three key foundations in the students’ learning process: mindset, skillset, and toolset. The mindset component is designed to cultivate a professional and entrepreneurial mindset among students. The skillset is developed through interdisciplinary competencies, including an understanding of social, economic, and technological aspects, as well as the application of artificial intelligence to solve problems. Meanwhile, the toolset emphasizes mastery of various cutting-edge tools and technologies relevant to industry needs.
This semester, nine teams are developing technological solutions addressing a diverse range of challenges. The AlteraSight team is developing an IoT monitoring solution for safety and the environment, while AQUALYZE focuses on smart aquaculture water monitoring. The EduAir team is developing a solution for healthy learning-space air monitoring, and hirup.id is creating connected safety solutions for better living.
Furthermore, LadangKu Smart Farming presents a precision farming solution for a better future. The NADIMAX team focuses on smart health performance monitoring, while the Pantau Banjir Group is developing a system for early flood detection and faster response. VeloCity Bandung is exploring the theme of smart mobility for efficient activities, and VitaCheck is developing a digital health check solution for the future.
This diversity of themes demonstrates that the Capstone Project provides students with the opportunity to apply their technological competencies to a wide range of real-world issues, ranging from agriculture, health, the environment, education, safety, disaster mitigation, to urban mobility. Additionally, the Capstone Project’s grading system is structured in a measurable way, with a total weight of 100 percent. The assessed aspects include Problem, SDGs & User Needs (8 percent), User Validation & Evidence (8 percent), Innovation & Differentiation (10 percent), and Solution–Problem Fit (8 percent). The assessment also covers Technical Architecture (10 percent) and Prototype Functionality & Demo (12 percent).
In addition to technical skills and innovation, students are evaluated on UI/UX & Accessibility (7 percent), Security, Reliability & Ethics (7 percent), Business Model & Sustainability (8 percent), and Market Potential & Scalability (7 percent). The ability to convey ideas through Pitch Delivery & Storytelling accounts for 7 percent, while Q&A, Team Capability & Execution account for 8 percent. This set of criteria demonstrates that students are not only required to create a functional product but must also be able to understand user needs, conduct validation, demonstrate the novelty of their solution, consider security and ethics, design a sustainable business model, assess market potential, and defend their ideas before the judges.
Based on the evaluation results, LadangKu Smart Farming secured first place with a score of 86.40, followed by VeloCity Bandung in second place with a score of 85.00, and NADIMAX in third place with a score of 84.80. These three teams demonstrated the best performance based on all the evaluation criteria established for the Capstone Project.
According to Dr. Agus, these evaluation results do not merely reflect students’ ability to produce a product but also serve as part of a process to measure the development of students’ competencies more comprehensively. The learning process is designed so that students experience a progression from not knowing to knowing, from knowing to understanding, and ultimately to becoming skilled. “It is this learning journey that is measured. From not knowing to knowing, from knowing to understanding, and from understanding to becoming skilled,” explained Dr. Agus.\
This evaluation model also positions collaboration skills as a crucial component of learning outcomes. Students are trained to develop communication, coordination, leadership, managerial skills, administrative skills, and social interaction within a team. These competencies are considered essential because the professional world demands the ability to work collaboratively and not rely solely on individual abilities. Furthermore, the Capstone Project is expected to become part of students’ portfolios. Each project developed is not viewed merely as a course assignment but can serve as a record of competencies demonstrating students’ ability to identify problems, design solutions, build products, work in teams, and present ideas professionally.
Dr. Agus also emphasized that learning objectives are not merely about measuring students’ ability to answer written questions. Student development must be viewed more holistically through cognitive, affective, and psychomotor aspects. Therefore, the Capstone Project serves as an alternative assessment method that provides students with a broader platform to demonstrate their potential and competencies. Moving forward, Dr. Agus hopes this learning model can continue to be developed by involving more industry practitioners, relevant agencies, and parties with the potential to support student project development. It is hoped that this involvement will not stop at the evaluation process but will open opportunities for the best projects to receive mentoring, incubation, and even funding, thereby potentially growing into actual startups.
The Final UAS Capstone Project held in Classroom 4507 at UNIKOM’s Campus I serves as a testament that the learning process can be transformed into a more contextual, competitive, and problem-solving-oriented experience. Through presentations, judging, and the announcement of winners, students gain an experience that closely mirrors professional processes in presenting and defending an innovation.
Through the Capstone Project, the final exam is no longer merely the final stage for measuring the ability to answer questions, but rather a platform for demonstrating students’ competencies, creativity, collaboration, and readiness to face the real world. From the nine teams with diverse ideas and solutions, it is hoped that innovations will emerge that do not stop in the classroom but can continue to be developed into solutions that benefit society and the industrial world. (Directorate of Hms & Pro)