Another remarkable achievement has been made by Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) students. Gian Luky Saputra and Daud Muhamad Azhari, Statistics 2021 students from the Department of Mathematics, FMIPA UGM, successfully claimed the runner-up position in the National Statistics Olympiad (ONS) at the ANAVA UGM 2024 event. With the creatively themed competition, “HOGWARTS (Harnessing Our Glorious Wizarding Ability for Gathering, Analyzing, and Transforming Statistics),” participants were challenged to showcase their abilities as “wizards” in the world of statistics and data analysis.
ONS is a prestigious national competition involving 40 teams of students from various universities across Indonesia, ranging from diploma to undergraduate programs. The teams were tested in three intensive stages: preliminary, semifinal, and final. Gian and Daud successfully navigated each challenge, reaching the final round held offline at FMIPA UGM on February 17, 2024.
The competition attracted top-tier universities such as Politeknik Statistika STIS, IPB University, and Institut Teknologi Bandung. To advance from the preliminary round, Gian and Daud had to solve 20 complex questions covering topics such as time series analysis, generalized linear models, and optimization theory. Despite facing difficulties—Daud was traveling during the competition—they persevered and advanced to the semifinal as one of the top 15 teams.
The semifinal posed even greater challenges. They were tasked with analyzing a country’s economic time series data, utilizing various models, including ARIMA and VAR. Remarkably, they managed to complete this analysis while simultaneously participating in another competition in Jakarta. Their outstanding results earned them a spot in the final round.
The final round was the ultimate test. Competing against nine other top teams, they presented their analysis in front of a panel of expert judges. The challenging Q&A session did not deter them. Gian and Daud responded brilliantly, demonstrating not only their theoretical knowledge but also their ability to apply statistical methods in real-world situations.
“We are grateful to have won second place after finishing fourth last year. This motivates us to keep growing and continue representing UGM,” said Daud.
UGM’s achievement is not only a personal victory for the team but also contributes to the promotion of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8, which aims to foster inclusive and sustainable economic growth. Their expertise in time series data analysis highlights the potential of statistics to promote economic stability and innovation in the future, aligning with SDG’s vision of enhancing productivity and creating solutions for global challenges.
Keywords: Student Achievements, Statistics Olympiad, Student Competitions
Contributor: Gian Luky
Author: Endang Sulastri
Photo: Gian Luky