KUALA LUMPUR: Nestle (Malaysia) Bhd has reaffirmed its long-standing commitment to strengthening the country’s halal ecosystem and developing future-ready talent through a partnership with the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM).
The group recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Kulliyyah of Science, IIUM Kuantan, to advance halal science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.
The signing was held in conjunction with a halal STEM Expo at the IIUM Kuantan campus.
The collaboration is designed to bridge industry and academia, with both parties aiming to equip young Malaysians with skills relevant to the evolving halal industry.
IIUM Kuantan will develop educational modules with support from Nestlé Malaysia, complemented by hands-on competitions and experiential learning activities to give students real-world exposure to halal science and innovation.
The MoU also outlines wider collaboration in halal science and food innovation research, as well as joint participation in conferences, workshops and academic publications.
Both parties said the partnership will help strengthen industry-academia linkages, encourage innovation and build a stronger pipeline of halal talent for the future.
Nestle Malaysia head of halal affairs Nasrul Hadi Mohamed Nor said its commitment to halal extends beyond ensuring the highest standards in its products and operations.
“We aim to nurture the next generation of talent for the halal industry by sparking their curiosity in STEM, and providing them with real-world insights into how science and technology shape the halal ecosystem.
“By equipping students with knowledge, hands-on experience and exposure to potential careers in halal STEM, we hope to open doors to exciting opportunities within the halal industry, helping to further strengthen Malaysia’s position as a global halal hub,” he said in a statement.
The halal STEM Expo featured interactive experiments, exhibition booths, competitions and knowledge-sharing sessions aimed at sparking student interest in halal-related science and technology fields.
One of the main highlights was the “halal Frontier Talk”, a panel session featuring representatives from Nestlé Malaysia and the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia.
It gave students direct insights from industry leaders and highlighted career opportunities in halal STEM fields.
The programme also included the Innovate Challenge, where secondary school and university students created and presented innovative prototypes focused on sustainability and aligned with halal STEM principles.
Nestle Malaysia supported the competition by acting as judges and mentors.
In addition, interactive booths allowed students to explore Nestle Malaysia’s halal value chain and better understand how STEM is used across the industry.