EVEN while studying abroad, Malaysian students can play a role in shaping developments back home.
That idea inspired the inaugural Urban Sustainability Case Study Competition 2026, which brought together nearly 100 Malaysian students across 19 teams from over 30 higher education institutions in Malaysia, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Europe and North America.
Hosted by the Johor Student Organisation United Kingdom (JSOUK), the competition, which culminated in the Grand Finale on Aug 23, challenged participants aged 18 to 25 to develop evidence-based policy proposals addressing the opportunities and challenges arising from the Johor Baru–Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS).
Proposals focusing on three areas – sustainable urban mobility, green infrastructure and housing, and inclusive economic development – were assessed not only for analytical rigour, but also for economic sustainability, social equity, liveability, environmental resilience, governance and cross-border coordination.
The programme began with an Online Initiation Day and Policy Workshop on July 17, which established a common analytical foundation for participants from diverse academic backgrounds through sessions exploring the economic, social and environmental implications of the RTS.
The sessions also introduced policy-cycle thinking and equipped teams with frameworks to translate research into practical recommendations while considering institutions, stakeholders and delivery constraints.
Following the preliminary round, five teams were invited to present their proposals at the Semi-Final, held at Sunway International School Iskandar Puteri in Johor on Aug 22.
The three highest-performing teams then advanced to the Grand Finale, where Team Mocks emerged as champion, receiving a cash prize of RM700. Bomshakalaka was named first runner-up, receiving RM500, while Southerners secured second runner-up with RM300. Southerners also received the RM100 Best Policy Memo Award for the strength, clarity and effectiveness of its written policy recommendation.
Team Mocks comprised students from Sunway College, while Bomshakalaka comprised students from Universiti Malaya and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Southerners comprised students from The University of Manchester, University of Southampton Malaysia and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.
Beyond the competition, JSOUK said it sought to create a meaningful bridge between Malaysian students overseas and Johor’s development agenda by providing participants with practical exposure to policy research, stakeholder analysis, strategic thinking and public presentation.
The initiative also created a platform for Malaysian youth to engage directly with representatives from industry, government-linked organisations and policy institutions on issues that will shape Johor’s future, it added in a press release.
Moving forward, the youth organisation plans to share relevant recommendations emerging from the competition with government stakeholders and strategic partners.
The move, it said, would provide a pathway for student-generated ideas to contribute to wider conversations surrounding Johor’s urban development in the RTS era.
