Unismuh Computer Science Students Win Canva Design Competition on Environmental Themes in Thailand

UNISMUH.AC.ID, Narathiwat, Southern Thailand — Four students from the Faculty of Computer Science at Muhammadiyah University of Makassar (Unismuh Makassar) who were participating in the 2nd Batch of the International Community Service Program, organized a digital poster design competition using Canva for students of Mattayom Sungaipadi School in Narathiwat Province, Southern Thailand, on Sunday, June 21, 2026. The activity, which focused on environmental themes, was held in the school's computer lab as a way to enhance students' creativity and digital literacy.

The students involved in the activity were Nurdian, Wafiq Azizah, Al Hizra, and Andi Hilyatul Mar'ah. Despite being placed in different schools during the International Community Service Program, they collaborated to deliver an educational activity that integrated technological skills, visual communication, and environmental awareness.

Before the competition began, the students provided a brief training session on how to use the Canva application. Participants were introduced to various basic graphic design features, including color selection, layout arrangement, use of visual elements, and techniques for effectively conveying messages through digital posters.

The activity was interactive and involved students directly in the design process. Participants not only received materials but also developed their own works based on the theme determined by the organizers.

The "Environment" theme was chosen to encourage students to convey messages about the importance of keeping clean, reducing waste, preserving nature, and supporting various environmental sustainability efforts. Through this creative approach, students were encouraged to use technology as a positive social campaign tool.

"We want students to not only learn how to use technology, but also to use technology to convey messages that are beneficial to society. Through digital poster design, students can develop their creativity and also increase their awareness of environmental issues," said Wafiq Azizah.

According to Wafiq, the activity was designed to integrate digital literacy with social and environmental awareness. She believes that digital skills should be directed towards activities that have a positive impact on society.

Nurdian added that the poster design competition provided a platform for students to hone their creative thinking and visual communication skills. According to him, graphic design skills are becoming increasingly important in the digital age.

"Graphic design is one of the most relevant skills in today's digital age. We hope that students can understand that technology is not only used for entertainment, but also to convey ideas, ideas, and solutions to various problems around them," said Nurdian.

The judging process was conducted by Nurisyan A-Lee, a teacher at Mattayom Sungaipadi School who served as the jury. The judging criteria included creativity, theme relevance, design neatness, use of Canva features, and the participants' ability to convey environmental messages through their creations.

After the judging process, the organizers announced four winning entries as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and "Most Favorite." The winners received prizes and certificates of appreciation, while all participants received participation certificates as a form of appreciation for their involvement in the activity.

Mattayom Sungaipadi School expressed its appreciation for the initiative of the Unismuh Makassar students in providing technology-based learning. The school teachers noted that such activities are relevant to the needs of students in keeping up with the ever-changing digital world.

The Dean of the Faculty of Computer Science at Unismuh Makassar, Rizki Yusliana Bakti, S.T., M.T., said that the collaboration between students in the activity demonstrated their ability to implement digital skills for the benefit of society. She believed that the program not only enhanced students' technological skills but also taught them creativity and visual communication.

"This activity shows that students of the Faculty of Computer Science can implement their digital skills to benefit society. In addition to enhancing students' technological skills, the activity also taught them creativity, visual communication, and environmental awareness. This is a real example of technology-based community service that is relevant to the needs of the times," she said.

Ir. Muhammad Syafaat S. Kuba, S.T., M.T., Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Unismuh Makassar, also commended the program initiated by the students. He believed that the activity reflected the students' ability to integrate technology with sustainable development issues, which are a global concern.

"We commend the students for creating a creative and innovative program during the International Community Service Program. This activity not only introduced digital skills to the students, but also raised environmental awareness through an engaging and appropriate approach for young people," said Syafaat.

The 2nd Batch of the International Community Service Program, managed by the Lembaga Pengembangan dan Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat (LP3M) of Unismuh Makassar, involved 30 students from various faculties who were placed in schools and communities in Narathiwat, Pattani, and Yala, Southern Thailand. A total of 11 students from the Faculty of Engineering, including the four students from the Faculty of Computer Science who were actively developing technology-based and digital literacy programs.

Through the "Environment" themed Canva design competition, the students from Unismuh Makassar not only introduced digital skills to students in Southern Thailand, but also instilled awareness about the importance of preserving the environment. The activity is expected to be part of strengthening international educational cooperation and encouraging the emergence of a generation of young people who are creative, tech-savvy, and environmentally conscious.