Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) has proudly marked a momentous achievement as two talented APU students secured victory at the Code; Without Barriers Hackathon 2023, a hackathon for women sponsored by Microsoft. With an acute under-representation of women in STEM careers, the hackathon aimed to support women in tech and empower them to push past boundaries. 

The event was organised by iTrain Asia Pte. Ltd. (Singapore) and supported by Girls in Tech, Inc and drew 770 talented female participants from 12 countries across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. Among these participants, Sangeeta Yadav, a Master's student in APU’s Data Science & Business Analytics programme, and Devina Wiyani, a final-year student studying BSc (Hons) in Computer Science with a specialisation in Data Analytics at APU, emerged as winners. The month-long hackathon involved participants working on problem statements and real-world challenges given by companies across the globe. 

Sangeeta Yadav's challenge, which was a problem statement from HCLTech, involved predicting influenza outbreaks in various regions using the Twitter Dataset or Influenza Surveillance dataset. Her work was pivotal in providing accurate and timely information to help public health officials, medical professionals and individuals to prepare and respond effectively to influenza outbreaks.

“By forecasting influenza outbreaks in advance, we can better allocate resources, implement preventive measures and minimise the impact on public health," explained Sangeeta.

On the other hand, Devina Wiyani took on the task from Carsome to develop a pricing algorithm that accurately predicts the selling price range of a car based on auction data, brand and mileage. Her regression model achieved an impressive accuracy of 93% and she went the extra mile by creating a user-friendly mini-system for users to interact with. Her solution not only garnered well-deserved recognition but also earned her an internship offer from Carsome.

Reflecting on their experiences, both Sangeeta and Devina encouraged other women to embrace their potential in tech. Sangeeta said, "Woman, just give your talent a push. You are never late to start. Just do it." Meanwhile, Devina emphasised the importance of perseverance and self-belief, stating, "Just continue to prove ourselves regardless of identity. Despite any difficulties, keep thriving."

The Code; Without Barriers Hackathon 2023 proved to be a transformative event, highlighting the extraordinary potential of women in tech. This event is a beacon of hope for aspiring women and others across the globe to break barriers and soar to new heights in the world of technology.

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