Mahidol University International College (MUIC) held the third iteration of its Design Challenge competitionfrom July 14 to 27, 2024 with teams from MUIC, Mahidol University’s Faculty of Dentistry, and Kunming Medical University Haiyuan College participating in the competition.

The Design Challenge 2024 has “Dental Service for the Elderly” as this year’s theme. Twenty students from Kunming Medical University Haiyuan College in China were divided into four teams while four Biological Science Students from MUIC and a Dentistry student from the MU Faculty of Dentistry comprised a five-person team.

During the two-week event, the participants attended seminars and workshops in design, dentistry, gerontology, and others as each team also conducted their own research as they came up with proposals for improved dental service for senior persons.

The Pitching Event and Awarding Ceremony were held on July 26, 2024 at Charinyarasami Hall in Aditayathorn Building. Each team gave a presentation of their proposed solutions before a panel of judges.

Adjudged as the Winner was Team YOUR BUDDIES! composed of students from MUIC and MU Faculty of Dentistry. They received a cash prize of 30,000 Baht. First Runner-up went to Team The Most Dazzling Ethnic Group, bagging a cash prize of 20,000 Baht. Second Runner-up was Team Doughnut which was awarded a cash prize of 10,000 Baht. The latter two teams are from Kunming Medical University Haiyuan College.

Ms. Nicha Tangtrongsakdi, Team Leader of YOUR BUDDIES! said, “Participating in this competition has been an incredible experience! Our team learned so much. We feel honored to be part of Design Challenge.”

Prof. Chulathida Chomchai, M.D., MUIC Dean, in her opening remarks, praised the contestants for the high degree of creativity they have shown in their proposals.

The board of judges was composed of:

• Clin. Prof. Visit Vamvanij, Deputy Dean on Health Care Enterprise and Chairman, Siriraj Academic Center of Geriatrics and Gerontology
• Dr. Karekwun Maneepairoj, D.D.S., Deputy Chief of Dental Department, Siriraj Hospital
• Dr. Sarote Phornprapha of the MUIC Steering Committee
• Asst. Prof. Dr. Dissatat Prasertsak, Faculty Member, Business Administration Division, MUIC

The Project Development Unit managed Design Challenge 2024 while the Student Affairs Section organized the Pitching Event. 

This project was a collaboration between MUIC and the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Faculty of Dentistry, International Relations Division of MU, Communication Design Program of MUIC, Bachelor of Business Administration Program of MUIC, and Kunming Medical University Haiyuan College.

List of Competing Teams

Group 1 (The Most Dazzling Ethnic Group) – Portable Scanner

Dong Haocheng
He Siying
Qian Xinhui
Qiu Xin
Ye Jia

Group 2 (LAMP) – Virtual Emotion Relieving System

Fu Siyu
Jin Ling
Li Chen
Yang Lu
Zhang Sipu

Group 3 (Earth Destroyer) – Dental Care Mobile Vehicle

Guo Junjie
Li Fujin
Yang Jinru
Zhang Yang
Zhao Qian

Group 4 (Doughnut) – AI Medical Appointment System

Hou Anna
Li Jiali
Ma Zhaocheng
Sun Saiqian
Weng Qinyi

Group 5 (YOUR BUDDIES!) – DentEL Buddy

Linna Awouda
Nicha Tangtrongsakdi
Praiya Chaowvivat
Thaksini Chawla
Warin Ding