APU’s School of Computing (SoC) transformed Artificial Intelligence (AI) exam revision into a high-energy campus treasure hunt with the AI Wau Heritage Quest 2026, where 116 Diploma students solved location-based riddles by applying AI concepts to traditional northern Malaysian Wau (kites) case studies.

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On 7 August 2026, standard exam revision took an exhilarating turn at Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) as 116 Diploma students transformed their Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) module offered by the School of Computing (SoC) into a high-energy campus treasure hunt, AI Wau Heritage Quest 2026: Scan. Seek. Solve. Discover.

Working in dynamic pairs, participants raced across APU’s state-of-the-art campus, deciphering location-based riddles to unlock essential keywords and access hidden AI problem sets. 

To navigate the competition’s secretive routes and challenge banks, students merged sharp logical reasoning with core AI concepts, tackling custom case studies inspired by traditional Wau (kites) from the northern Malaysian states of Perlis, Perak, and Kedah.

By weaving local heritage into technical computing problems, the quest challenged students to connect coursework with real-world culture. 

International participants, in particular, experienced a revelation, suddenly connecting the intricate kite motifs in their technical modules to the artwork they had previously spotted on Malaysian banknotes.

“Why cannot our AI case studies, classroom activities, or even examination questions include elements of culture,” said Associate Professor Ts Dr Vinothini Kasinathan, the initiator and coordinator behind the quest.

“When younger learners encounter Wau in an AI problem, they begin asking what it is, where it comes from, and why it matters. We can teach the required concepts while simultaneously inspiring a new generation to appreciate cultural knowledge.”

The event expertly blended module revision with gamified learning, pushing teams to collaborate, think on their feet, and solve complex algorithms under strict time constraints. 

Supported by Ms Sarimah Samsudin, Dr Adeline Sneha John Chrisastum, and Ms Thavamalini Sivasamy, the large cohort navigated the campus safely and enthusiastically.

At the conclusion of the event, Seyed Pakdad Mousavi and Yossif Raslan emerged as the Champions, while Goh Xiang Yu and Yong Bo Yao claimed 1st Runner-up, followed by Sia Zhong Wee and Tay Kah Kong securing 2nd Runner-up. 

The top teams stood out for their impressive accuracy, seamless collaboration, and ability to conquer complex tasks against the clock.

Reflecting on their victory, Seyed shared that the combination of QR codes, real-world exploration, and academic challenges made the experience thrilling while sharpening their teamwork and quick thinking. 

His teammate, Yossif, added the sentiment, noting that the interactive format brought technology and exploration together in a uniquely engaging way that encouraged participants to explore the campus to find correct solutions.

Ultimately, AI Wau Heritage Quest 2026 proved that academic revision can be both intellectually rigorous and deeply engaging, demonstrating that traditional Malaysian heritage and cutting-edge artificial intelligence can share the exact same stage.