Holmes Institute Students Present Research on AI & Diabetes at IEEE Conference

Two students from Holmes Institute’s Master of Information Systems program have achieved international recognition with their research being accepted for oral presentation at the prestigious 2025 IEEE International Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Engineering and Technology.
Their work, which explores how machine learning can be used to detect diabetes early using lifestyle and physiological data, marks a major academic milestone — not only for the students involved, but for the broader Holmes community.

The project, titled “Application of Machine Learning Algorithms for Early Prediction of Diabetes using Lifestyle and Physiological Data”, was developed under the guidance of Holmes Sydney academic, Professor Mohammad Dabbagh, and will now be presented on a global stage at the IEEE Conference in Malaysia.

Key Summary

• Holmes Institute students’ research accepted for oral presentation at IEEE AI conference in 2025
  
• Research focuses on early detection of diabetes using machine learning
  
• The project was part of the students' final-semester coursework
  
• Students supported by Holmes Institute through full sponsorship of conference participation
  
• Video interview available: students share their journey and what the achievement means to them
  
• Proud moment for Holmes Institute’s Master of Information Systems program

A Proud Moment for Holmes Institute

At Holmes Institute, student success is not only celebrated — it’s actively fostered through academic mentorship, practical projects, and opportunities to apply knowledge in the real world. The recent acceptance of a student-led research paper at the 2025 IEEE International Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Engineering and Technology (IICAIET) is a prime example.

This prestigious international platform attracts academics, researchers, and professionals from around the world, making the students’ selection for an oral presentation a remarkable achievement.

The IEEE Conference: A Global Platform for Innovation

The IEEE IICAIET 2025 took place in Malaysia and focuses on advancements in artificial intelligence and its application across engineering and technology disciplines.

Having a paper accepted — especially for oral presentation — is a significant honour. It puts Holmes Institute on the map in global conversations around AI, and highlights the calibre of both the academic team and student body in the Master of Information Systems (MIS) program.

Breakthrough Research on Early Diabetes Prediction

The accepted research paper, “Application of Machine Learning Algorithms for Early Prediction of Diabetes using Lifestyle and Physiological Data,” investigates how AI can be applied to assist in the early detection of diabetes using accessible health data.

“It’s a good thing to apply our machine learning concept... it is easy for the healthcare industry to apply and it’s very approachable for detecting diabetes early,” said student Meena Ravikumar.

This kind of research showcases the power of combining real-world issues with cutting-edge technology — a core philosophy of the MIS program at Holmes Institute.

Meet the Minds Behind the Paper

The paper was co-authored by Sudikshya Shrestha, Meena Ravikumar, and Professor Mohammad Dabbagh, who mentored the project and guided its development from coursework to publishable research.

“It was a submission of our third-semester course project. After our final presentation, the professor saw our effort and asked us to explore turning it into a paper,” said Sudikshya Shrestha.

“We didn’t expect it to be accepted — but when it did, it felt like we had done something valuable for the community,” she added.

The project involved everything from data collection and preparation to model evaluation, writing, and formatting a full research paper — an impressive effort from a student-led team.

From Study to Stage: The Road to the IEEE Conference

What started as a course assignment quickly became something more. Encouraged by their professor’s feedback, the students expanded their research and prepared it for submission to an international conference — something neither of them had expected when starting the semester.

“My role was to research the best way to predict diabetes through machine learning. It helped us a lot — doing the questionnaires, gathering the information, and finally coming into it,” said Meena.

Their application was not only accepted — it was selected for oral presentation, placing them among a shortlist of global presenters in the AI field.

Backing Student Success: Holmes Institute Sponsorship

Holmes Institute is proud to have sponsored the students’ participation in the IEEE Conference, covering the full conference fee and supporting their journey to present their work internationally.

This sponsorship reflects Holmes Institute’s strong commitment to supporting student development beyond the classroom, empowering learners to take their skills and knowledge into the world.

Why This Matters for Future MIS Students

This achievement is more than just a success story — it’s a sign of what’s possible for future students in the Master of Information Systems program at Holmes Institute. By combining academic rigour, practical skills, and supportive mentoring, students can pursue real-world impact and career-building experiences.

If you’re considering postgraduate study in IT, AI, or data, Holmes Institute offers not only the curriculum — but also the encouragement and opportunities — to help you thrive.

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Watch the Journey: Behind the Research

Hear directly from Sudikshya and Meena about how their coursework led to an international research presentation.

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This incredible milestone for Sudikshya Shrestha, Meena Ravikumar, and Professor Mohammad Dabbagh demonstrates the value of turning coursework into real-world contributions. Their journey from classroom to international conference is an inspiring example of what can be achieved with curiosity, hard work, and support from an engaged academic community.

Congratulations to our students — and to the wider Holmes Institute family — on this proud moment.

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