A single invitation to join an international competition transformed the university experience of Wan Muhammad Abdul Qayyum Rusli and set him on a journey encompassing research, innovation, entrepreneurship and international engagement.
The final-year Bachelor of Science (Hons.) in Analytical Economics student at Universiti Kuala Lumpur Business School (UniKL BiS) is now an independent researcher and the Founder of SantunCare, a registered social enterprise operating under Dear You Enterprise.
His research interests include social entrepreneurship, behavioural economics, sustainability, green energy, the silver economy and community-driven innovation.
Through these areas, Wan Muhammad Abdul Qayyum seeks to apply economics and entrepreneurial thinking to challenges affecting society and local communities.
However, his involvement in competitions and innovation programmes began with a relatively simple decision.
Wan Muhammad Abdul Qayyum had never participated in an international competition when his friend, Soufee, invited him to join Ecofest Indonesia.
He accepted the invitation as an opportunity to gain a new experience. Unexpectedly, their team secured Third Place against participants from Myanmar, Thailand, the Philippines, Laos and Vietnam.
The achievement strengthened his confidence that ideas developed by UniKL students could compete internationally.
“Looking back, saying ‘yes’ to Soufee’s invitation completely changed my university journey,” he said.
Following the competition, Wan Muhammad Abdul Qayyum and his friends began actively seeking opportunities in research competitions, innovation challenges, business pitching events, leadership programmes and international initiatives.
Each experience exposed him to feedback from judges, industry professionals and mentors while strengthening his critical thinking, teamwork and communication skills.
One of the most significant outcomes of his university journey is SantunCare, which began as an innovation called CareLink+.
The idea was inspired by the challenges faced by working families who must balance their careers, household responsibilities and the care of elderly loved ones. Wan Muhammad Abdul Qayyum’s experience of reflecting on his late grandfather’s illness also motivated him to explore how families could receive more accessible and reliable support.
He introduced CareLink+ during INNOFest 2026 alongside team members Azam, Lysa and Afrina.
The innovation subsequently received a Gold Medal at the Innogen Challenge 2026, which involved more than 1,000 participants and awarded only 40 Gold Medals.
The team also presented the idea at BizPora 2026, where it secured Third Place in the business pitching competition.
Feedback received throughout the competitions encouraged Wan Muhammad Abdul Qayyum to refine the concept further, strengthen its business model and rebrand CareLink+ as SantunCare.
SantunCare is being developed as an integrated Home Care and Home Support platform.
Its proposed services include caregiving assistance, companionship, hospital accompaniment, medication collection, runner services and household support.
Families often have to obtain these services from several providers, making coordination difficult and time-consuming. SantunCare aims to bring the services together within one trusted ecosystem.
The platform is intended to support elderly individuals, working adults caring for family members and households requiring reliable home assistance.
“The challenge is not that families do not care. It is that they may not have enough time or access to reliable support,” Wan Muhammad Abdul Qayyum explained.
SantunCare also proposes a cross-subsidy model in which revenue from premium services for M40 and T20 households would help make care services more affordable for B40 families.
Through this model, the social enterprise aims to balance commercial sustainability with social impact while creating employment opportunities for caregivers, runners and skilled service providers within local communities.
SantunCare reached another milestone after securing the FUSE x SERY 2026 grant from the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
According to Wan Muhammad Abdul Qayyum, the grant provided more than financial assistance. It validated the potential of the initiative and connected the team with mentors, industry experts and other youth entrepreneurs.
As of 3 August 2026, SantunCare is in its final preparation stage before commencing operations.
The team is developing its official website, securing its company domain and finalising its service and operational systems. Its pilot project is planned for PPR Kerinchi in Kuala Lumpur.
Instead of pursuing immediate expansion, SantunCare is prioritising the readiness of its digital platform, community partnerships and service procedures before accepting its first clients.
He is also developing LegacyBridge Advisory, an Experience-as-a-Service platform that seeks to connect experienced retired professionals with small and medium-sized enterprises, universities, non-governmental organisations and other organisations requiring practical advisory services.
The platform aims to preserve valuable professional knowledge while making expert guidance more accessible and affordable.
His growing experience in research, sustainability and community innovation also contributed to his selection as one of only three Malaysian representatives for the Seminar on Green Empowerment for China and ASEAN Countries.
The selection provided him with an opportunity to represent Malaysia, UniKL and Malaysian youth on an international platform.
For Wan Muhammad Abdul Qayyum, these experiences demonstrate that student development is not limited to academic achievement. Competitions, international programmes and entrepreneurship initiatives can also help students discover their capabilities and turn early-stage ideas into solutions with wider social value.
“I believe ideas should not remain in journals or classrooms.
“They should be tested, refined and transformed into practical solutions that create meaningful social, economic and environmental impact,” he said.
Wan Muhammad Abdul Qayyum’s initiatives contribute to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
SantunCare supports SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being by seeking to improve access to home and community care services.
Its proposed employment opportunities and social enterprise model align with SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, while its cross-subsidy approach supports SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities.
The initiative also contributes to SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities by developing community-based assistance for elderly individuals and families.
Its collaboration with government programmes, mentors, communities and service providers further reflects SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
