Heriot-Watt University Malaysia team triumphs at L’Oréal Datathon 2025

Heriot-Watt University Malaysia's team of Mathematical and Computer Sciences (MACS) students achieved first place at the Datathon 2025, jointly organised by L’Oréal and Monash University Malaysia.

The Datathon is the first-ever student-exclusive innovation challenge organised by L’Oréal, aimed at equipping university students with opportunities to apply their analytical thinking, coding capabilities, and problem-solving skills to real-world business problems. The month-long programme featured expert-led training sessions, hybrid collaboration opportunities, and culminated in a live pitch event at the L’Oréal headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

The 2025 edition of the Datathon challenged participants to address one of the most pressing issues in today’s digital age, cutting through social media noise and spam to extract meaningful consumer insights from vast amounts of unstructured data.

The winning team from HWUM, comprising Zhen Hao Wee, Foo Wei Shan, Pah Onn Qi, and Ivan Tee Yee Xuan, impressed the judging panel with an AI-powered system designed to convert raw social media feedback into actionable business intelligence.

The team’s success was supported by the expert mentorship of Dr. Ian Tan, Head of MACS at HWUM, and Dr. John See, who guided the students in refining both the technical architecture and the strategic delivery of their final presentation.

This remarkable achievement not only highlights the calibre, creativity, and collaboration of HWUM’s students but also underscores the Malaysia campus’ commitment to nurturing future-ready graduates who are equipped to address complex challenges through innovation, technology, and interdisciplinary thinking.