Industry leaders inspire data science and cybersecurity students to build AI-powered solutions with real-world impact
All participants of the talk show gathered for a group photo with the speakers
BSD City, Tangerang – Throughout May and June 2026, students from the Master of Data Science (MDS) and Master of Cybersecurity (MCS) programs at Monash University, Indonesia strengthened their industry experience through a series of interactive mentoring sessions and an inspiring industry talk show as part of the Professional Practice (led by Dr. Erza Aminanto) and Industry Experience (IE) Studio Project (led by Dr. Risqi Saputra) units.
Held at the Monash University, Indonesia campus, the industry talk show entitled "From Vibe Coding to Global Scaling: How Top Tech Leaders Manage Risk, Cross-Border Teams, and Proactive Quality Assurance in the Era of AI", brought together 55 students and featured distinguished technology leaders: Herman Widjaja, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Tokopedia. Attended by all students enroled in the Professional Practice unit, the session explored how artificial intelligence is transforming modern software engineering and digital innovation, while highlighting the continued importance of sound engineering principles and responsible technology development.
The talk show with Herman Widjaja, CTO of Tokopedia, moderated by Dr. Risqi Saputra
Drawing on his extensive leadership experience, Herman Widjaja discussed how Generative AI has rapidly accelerated software development by assisting developers in generating code (vibe coding), documentation, and prototypes. However, he emphasised that AI should be viewed as an enabler rather than a replacement for engineering expertise.
"Gen AI can significantly accelerate the software development life cycle, but strong engineering policies and guardrails remain essential to manage risks and maintain software quality and security. Human-in-the-loop validation continues to play a critical role in ensuring that AI-generated code is accurate, reliable, and secure," Herman explained.
The discussion also explored the realities of leading global engineering teams, maintaining software quality across distributed development environments, and fostering collaboration between technical and business stakeholders. Students gained practical insights into balancing innovation with governance, an increasingly important capability as organisations adopt AI-powered software development.
Following the talk show, students enroled in the Industry Experience Studio Project unit participated in intensive mentoring sessions with industry mentors Herman Widjaja and Ni Made Sunarti, Senior Vice President (SVP) at CIMB Niaga. During these sessions, student teams presented their proposed IT for Good solutions they had developed over the term and received constructive feedback based on real industry expectations.
The diversity of projects demonstrated both technical capability and practical relevance. Student teams showcased solutions including cybersecurity awareness and campaign management platforms for organisations, intelligent systems for analysing urban disruption (such as flooding, or traffic jam), recommendation tools for electric vehicle charging station placement, and data-driven platforms for analysing news sentiment and detecting disinformation.
Students enroled in the IE Studio Project present their project ideas during a mentoring session with Herman Widjaja, CTO of Tokopedia (third from right), and Ni Made Sunarti, SVP at CIMB Niaga (far right)
Rather than focusing solely on technical implementation, the mentors encouraged students to consider scalability, usability, business value, and long-term maintainability. The discussions challenged students to think beyond producing a working prototype and towards designing solutions that could create meaningful impact in industry.
The collaboration reflects Monash University, Indonesia's commitment to providing authentic industry engagement throughout its postgraduate programs. By integrating experienced technology leaders into the learning process, students gain exposure to current industry challenges, emerging technologies, and professional practices that complement their academic knowledge.
"As AI continues to reshape industries worldwide, Industry Experience Studio Project ensures that graduates are equipped not only with strong technical skills, but also with the critical thinking, communication, and professional judgement needed to develop responsible, secure, and impactful IT solutions. Through partnerships with industry mentors from organisations such as CIMB Niaga and Tokopedia, Monash University, Indonesia continues to bridge the gap between university learning and industry practice, preparing graduates to become future technology leaders in an increasingly AI-driven world.", Dr. Risqi Saputra explained.