The Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) is pleased to announce that the APRU Tech Policy Hackathon 2025 has been awarded Best Use of EdTech in Higher Education at the EdTech Innovation Hub (ETIH) Innovation Awards 2026, recognizing APRU’s leadership in advancing digitally enabled, applied learning across the Asia‑Pacific region.

International recognition for digital learning innovation

The ETIH Innovation Awards recognize organizations and initiatives delivering measurable impact in education, skills development, and workforce transformation through the effective use of technology. The 2026 awards program attracted more than 140 entries from around the world, reflecting growing global demand for innovative digital learning models in higher education.

The Best Use of EdTech in Higher Education category celebrates universities and higher education organizations that have embedded educational technology in ways that meaningfully transform the student or faculty experience. APRU’s selection underscores the strength of the Tech Policy Hackathon as a structured, digitally enabled experiential learning initiative that integrates mentorship, collaboration tools, and applied assessment into a cohesive educational journey.

A regional platform connecting universities, policy, and industry

The APRU Tech Policy Hackathon 2025 was designed to provide students with hands‑on experience at the intersection of technology, public policy, and societal impact. The initiative brings together student teams from with industry, policymakers, civil society organizations, and strategic partners.

Co‑created and supported by Google and data.org, the APRU Tech Policy Hackathon fostered a digitally enabled learning environment anchored in real‑world challenges and regional priorities. Additionally, leaders from academia, government agencies, industry, and international organizations, mentored students through the process of developing policy briefs and prototyping solutions that demonstrated the practical application of AI and data science to complex societal issues. This multi‑stakeholder approach reflects APRU’s commitment to preparing future generations of leaders to address policy challenges through responsible, technology‑informed solutions.

The 2025 Hackathon saw strong participation from across the Pacific Rim, with 299 students from 40 universities across 15 economies submitting 70 project proposals addressing policy challenges shaped by artificial intelligence and data driven technologies. From this pool, 12 finalist teams comprising 56 students from 14 universities across nine economies were selected to advance to the final round held in Bangkok, Thailand.

Advancing inclusive innovation in the Asia Pacific

Across the Asia Pacific, digital transformation offers powerful opportunities to expand access to education, strengthen public services, and improve economic participation. Yet uneven access to digital infrastructure, skills, and enabling policy frameworks continues to deepen disparities within and between societies. APRU’s partnership with data.org is central to the Tech Policy Hackathon, emerging from a broader collaboration focused on capacity building and the application of AI and data science for social impact. At its core, the partnership aims to strengthen data literacy and empower students to develop policy solutions that respond to urgent regional challenges with evidence, responsibility, and scale.

The APRU Tech Policy Hackathon was designed to respond to these challenges by empowering students to develop technology‑enabled policy solutions that address real needs, particularly in underserved communities across Southeast Asia and the wider region. Through sustained collaboration with partners such as Google and data.org, APRU supports the development of solutions that are informed by data, grounded in local context, and capable of scaling across diverse economies.

Preparing future leaders for a digital society

As artificial intelligence and data‑driven technologies continue to shape economic and social development, universities play a critical role in preparing graduates who can understand both technical innovation and its broader societal implications. Through initiatives such as the Tech Policy Hackathon, APRU supports the development of globally minded leaders who can balance innovation with responsibility and public value. 

Winning the Best Use of EdTech in Higher Education award affirms APRU’s commitment to advancing innovative digitally enabled education models that student learning and strengthen student engagement, foster cross‑sector collaboration, and deliver real‑world impact across the Pacific Rim. APRU remains committed to working with its member universities and partners to drive inclusive innovation that benefits societies throughout the Asia Pacific and beyond.

The next edition of the hackathon is currently calling for participation from student teams. The 2026 Data, AI & Policy APAC Hackathon: Financial Health Frontiers is a regional competition for university students and recent graduates who want to build practical, responsible, and user-centered solutions for financial health in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. The hackathon explores how data, AI, and policy can help financial service providers (FSPs) better support underserved communities and strengthen inclusive, resilient financial systems.  Find more information about how to participate here.