AWS CendekiAwan 2026: free webinar and National Bedrock Hackathon for UTAR students
AWS CendekiAwan is a free digital upskilling programme that equips university students with AI knowledge and skills. It is run by Elitery with AWS, supported by Elite Academy, UTAR and the UTAR Computer Society, with prizes sponsored by GDEX.
This year UTAR students can learn generative AI with PartyRock, build an app in a team of five, and compete for an RM10,000 prize pool for UTAR teams. The best teams go on to the National Bedrock Hackathon at the AWS office in Kuala Lumpur.
I am the UTAR coordinator for the programme, so feel free to reach out if you have questions.
Free webinar: Monday, 16 November
Find out how to learn, build and win with AWS.
Date: Monday, 16 November 2026
Time: 2:00 – 4:30 PM (Malaysia time)
Platform: Zoom (the link is shown after you register)
Register: forms.gle/DaGyuLFwsGXMxHMYA
What you will learn:
- What AWS CendekiAwan 2026 is about
- How to join as a team of five
- The timeline, prizes and how to get started
Learn PartyRock in about an hour
No experience is needed. The self-paced lesson runs on your phone through the AWS CendekiAwan Telegram bot, and you can finish your first generative AI app in about an hour. It is completely free, and you earn a certificate and a project for your portfolio.
- Install Telegram from the App Store or Google Play, and sign in.
- Open the bot, t.me/AWS_Cendekiawan_Elitementor_Bot, and tap Start.
- Register and follow the lessons.
- Submit your PartyRock app through the bot.
The bot also links to the self-learning guidelines, which cover registration, the learning modules and the helpdesk.
National Bedrock Hackathon 2026
Learn, build and scale your AI innovation nationwide. Teams build a PartyRock app on one of five themes:
- Smart Education
- Digital Health
- Environment & Climate
- Financial Inclusion & SME
- GovTech & Social Impact
Timeline
| When | What |
|---|---|
| 4 – 18 Nov | Self-learning PartyRock and team registration |
| 16 Nov (Mon) | Intro to PartyRock webinar, with the AWS team and a sharing session by GDEX |
| 18 Nov (Wed) | Team registration closes at 12 midnight |
| 27 Nov (Fri) | PartyRock app submission: the team leader submits the app, documents and PPT |
| 1 Dec (Tue) | GDEX judging day |
| 2 Dec (Wed) | UTAR top 10 teams announced |
| 16 – 18 Dec (Wed–Fri) | AWS Bedrock Hackathon and Grand Finale at the AWS office, Kuala Lumpur |
Meals and accommodation for the grand finale are covered by AWS.
Prizes for UTAR teams
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| Champion | RM2,500 |
| 1st runner-up | RM2,000 |
| 2nd runner-up | RM1,500 |
| 4th | RM1,000 |
| 5th | RM800 |
| 6th | RM500 |
| 7th | RM300 |
| 8th | RM200 |
| 9th | RM100 |
| 10th | RM100 |
There is also an RM1,000 GDEX Best Logistics AI Solution Award. Each top 10 team receives an RM20 myGDEX voucher, and every member of each submitting team receives an RM10 myGDEX voucher.
How to join
- Form a team of five.
- Register your team by 12 midnight, 18 November: forms.gle/B39eRJ6xziDhXghT9
- Start learning with the Telegram bot.
Registration and training materials are 100% free.
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