THP FBF students clinch second place in
AKSI 2026 financial literacy competition

Strategic thinking and financial acumen – two important skills that earned UTAR students from the Teh Hong Piow Faculty of Business and Finance (THP FBF) second place at the Arena Kewangan Siswa Intervarsiti AKPK 2026 (AKSI 2026), organised by Kelab Tunas AKPK UKM in collaboration with the Faculty of Economics and Management (FEP) of UKM.

The team consisted of Bachelor of Business Administration (Honours) (Risk Management) students Cheah Jia Yi, Chin Yu Shan, Janice Ean Yan Rong, and Kee Pei En, and Bachelor of Finance (Honours) student Chu Chee Xin. They received RM500 cash prize, hampers, and official merchandises from AKPK and the Faculty of Economics and Management (FEP) of UKM.

Themed Arena Kewangan Siswa Intervarsiti AKPK 2026 (Smart Money Challenge), the competition aimed to promote financial literacy among university students through a series of interactive challenges. The team explained, “This entry promotes financial integrity and literacy among youth, helping a new generation of students make informed decisions that avoid long-term debt traps. This aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education and SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. By advocating for digital literacy and responsible financial strategies, we contribute to a more inclusive educational environment and sustainable economic participation for youth.”

The students also enthused, “We were inspired by the real-world financial struggles of modern students who must balance the high costs of essential digital educational tools with limited financial resources. The logic used in our debate serves as a framework for students to treat high-value educational tools as “Capital Assets” (investments) rather than mere consumption, encouraging strategic debt management. Our winning entry involved a three-phase performance starting with “Kahoot Bijak Hutang”, followed by the “Perang Literasi Gimkit”, and culminating in the “Special Financial Debate” (Debat Khas Kewangan). We successfully navigated through ranking-based qualifiers to reach the Final Round Special Financial Debate, The iPad Pro Dilemma: Learning Tool vs. Aesthetic Accessory, where we argued a critical case regarding the financial necessity of premium digital tools for students.”

Expressing their gratitude to UTAR for providing them with the financial knowledge necessary to navigate the diverse challenges of this competition, from the Kahoot quizzes to the final debate, the team said, “It feels rewarding to see our teamwork and financial analysis skills recognised on such a prestigious platform. We wanted to challenge our financial literacy and strategic thinking through a unique, gamified simulation that goes beyond traditional classroom learning. Our goal was to test our ability to make practical financial decisions under pressure and engage in critical discussions regarding modern financial dilemmas. This recognition validates our ability to apply financial theories to real-world scenarios, such as debt management and strategic investment.”