The Capstone Project in Bangkit Academy is a final project designed to integrate all the skills and knowledge participants have gained throughout the program. It is a crucial component of Bangkit Academy, a talent development program supported by Google, GoTo, and Traveloka, aimed at preparing Indonesian students to become work-ready digital professionals in the tech era.

Objectives of the Bangkit Academy Capstone Project

1. Applying Learned Skills: Participants practice their technical skills, such as Machine Learning, Mobile Development, or Cloud Computing, depending on their chosen learning path.

2. Enhancing Team Collaboration: The Capstone Project requires participants to work in cross-disciplinary teams (e.g., collaboration between Mobile Development, Cloud Computing, and Machine Learning participants) to complete a unified project.

3. Creating Real-World Solutions: The project focuses on addressing real-world problems by developing technology-based solutions.

4. Building a Portfolio: The project outcome serves as a professional portfolio for job applications or other career opportunities in the tech industry.

Capstone Project Process

1. Team Formation: Participants are grouped into interdisciplinary teams, typically consisting of five members with a mix of all learning paths.

2. Problem Selection: Each team identifies a problem relevant to community or industry needs, such as issues in environment, education, healthcare, or technology.

3. Solution Development: Teams design, build, and implement a tech-based solution using the skills of each team member:
   – Mobile Development participants focus on building the application.
   – Cloud Computing participants manage the infrastructure and server needs.
   – Machine Learning participants develop AI-based features, such as predictions or data classification.

4. Mentorship Support: Teams receive guidance and feedback from Bangkit mentors to ensure their projects progress smoothly.

5. Project Presentation: Once completed, each team presents their solution to a panel of judges comprising industry experts and representatives from partner companies.

Benefits of the Capstone Project

1. Improved Collaboration Skills: Participants learn to work in multidisciplinary teams, similar to real-world industry settings.

2. Real-World Project Experience: Participants gain hands-on experience developing tech-based solutions for real-world problems.

3. Industry Exposure: Projects are often evaluated by industry partners, giving participants insights and feedback directly from professionals.

4. Career Opportunities: The Capstone Project serves as a showcase of participants’ technical abilities and problem-solving skills, making them more attractive to recruiters.

In conclusion, the Capstone Project at Bangkit Academy is not only a platform to apply our technical skills but also an opportunity to collaborate, innovate, and create impactful solutions for real-world problems. By completing this project, participants can showcase their abilities, gain valuable industry experience, and take a significant step forward in our journey toward becoming future-ready digital professionals.

One example of a Capstone Project is Adoptify, a mobile application that my Capstone team and I designed to address the growing issue of abandoned animals in Indonesia (specifically in the Greater Jakarta area and Malang). By leveraging the interdisciplinary expertise of the team, this project demonstrates how technology can be utilized to create meaningful social impact while addressing challenges in both community and animal welfare.

Existing Problem

Indonesia is currently facing an increase in the population of abandoned animals, which has become a serious and urgent issue. One of the primary causes is the lack of awareness and concern from the public. This lack of attention can lead to various new problems, including the spread of diseases between animals or even from animals to humans. These negative impacts pose broader public health risks that need immediate attention.

Additionally, many kind-hearted individuals wish to help by adopting or rescuing these abandoned animals. However, they often face significant challenges, such as a lack of knowledge about the adoption procedures, information about the animals' needs, and the locations of nearby animal shelters. These obstacles leave many abandoned animals without the help they desperately need, despite the good intentions of the public.

User Research

User research was conducted to gain a deeper understanding of the needs and preferences of users for the animal adoption application. During this process, direct observations were carried out to evaluate the user interface (UI) design of the application being developed. Additionally, the author collected data and information from various sources, including interviews with colleagues who specialize in UI/UX development.

The initial findings from this research identified key features that users require. For instance, users need quick access to a list of animals available for adoption, an easy-to-understand guide on adoption procedures, and a feature to search for animal shelters based on their location. The data gathered through observations and interviews was further validated to ensure its accuracy and relevance.

Developed Solutions

Based on the collected data, solutions were developed to create a mobile application for animal adoption that is intuitive, effective, and aligned with users' needs. The development process was based on reliable sources of information, including literature studies from scientific journals and articles on animal adoption, as well as in-depth interviews with experts and animal lover communities.

The solution focuses on enhancing the user experience, particularly for pet lovers interested in adopting dogs and cats. The application's key features include:

1. Comprehensive Animal Profiles: Each animal has a detailed profile page containing information such as age, breed, health conditions, and specific needs.

2. Nearby Shelter Search: By integrating GPS functionality, users can locate the nearest animal shelters based on their current location.

3. Step-by-Step Adoption Guide: The application provides a detailed, step-by-step guide to help users navigate the adoption process, from filling out forms to completing the final steps.

4. Communication System: A feature that allows users to connect directly with shelter staff to ask questions or learn more about the animals they wish to adopt.

5. Education and Awareness: An educational section within the app provides information about the importance of animal adoption and how to care for pets properly.

To ensure the application truly meets market needs, further research was conducted through interviews, surveys, and direct user testing. This approach ensures that the application's design and functionality align with the expectations of pet lovers while effectively addressing the issue of abandoned animals.

Find out more on Bēhance: capstone-project-adoptify

©2023 Adoptify – Mobile Pet Adopting App | Provided by Bangkit Academy