SFSG Culinology® Webinar Series on Food Fraud as an Emerging Crime

Food fraud is an emerging crime with profit at its root. Despite the strict enforcements, technologies and transparency, food fraud remains to threaten both lives and livelihoods. Culinology® webinar series has disclosed the definition of food fraud and how it’s evolving in Malaysia. Mr. Badruzzaman bin Abdul Rahim, speaker from the Ministry of Health discussed about the impact of food fraud, ranging from harmful adulteration to unethical substitution of substandard products in food industry.

Whereas, Dr. Simon, an industry speaker from Water Corporation, has exposed the importance of scientific analysis and latest technology in detecting and combating the food fraud. Dr. Wendy Lim Pek Kui, Senior Lecturer, School of Food Studies and Gastronomy moderated the session presented by the two panel speaker who shared their views on impact of food fraud. The webinar was a success which provided the participants on the latest compliances and technology available to minimize food fraud.

International Tourism Webinar Series on "Revitalizing ASEAN MICE Industry"

Taylor's University, Malaysia, James Cook University, Singapore and Universitas Pancasila, Indonesia recently co-organized the 5th ASEAN Tourism Research Association (ATRA) International Webinar Series of 2021. Prof. Dr. Neethiahnanthan Ari Ragavan, Executive Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management and President of ATRA was invited to deliver the opening speech. The webinar entitled “Revitalizing ASEAN MICE Industry” attracted more than one thousand (1,000) virtual viewers from all over the world.

The webinar consisted an excellent mixture of speakers from academia and industry of various ASEAN nations. The session was moderated by Tourism Industry Board Foundation Inc. (TIBFI Philippines) Chairwoman Ms. Ma. Christina Aquino and hosted by one of ATRA Board Director, Dr. Jenny Panchal. The sharing session explored the importance of MICE industry towards national and regional economic contribution. With restricted movement in most countries and closed borders worldwide, the COVID-19 pandemic heavily hit the MICE industry.

As a prominent MICE destination in the world, ASEAN experiences major impact to the development of the tourism industry which was discussed in detailed during the session. The speakers acknowledged the ASEAN governments effort in ramping up the vaccination drive to boost the economy, which revitalizes the tourism industry. The speakers were mutually agreeable that the industry players should stay resilient by integrating relevant technologies in the last phase of the pandemic challenges.

"The ABCDs of Advertising" by Adjunct Associate Professor Selva Ganapathy, Grey Group Malaysia

Copywriting is an essential part in advertising and marketing as it involves skills in copy ideation, conceptualization and the great Big Idea. While it is an individual skill, the job involves working with others in a team. The biggest challenge faced by many when going into the advertising industry is working on the creative process.

Students learnt the ABCDs of advertising in four-part workshop:

1. Answering the Brief

2. Brainstorming Ideas

3. Crafting the Work

4. Delivering the Executions

The session was delivered by Mr. Selva Ganapathy, Grey Group Malaysia. He is currently the Adjunct Associate Professor for the School of Media and Communication, Taylor's University. A total of 30 participants attended the sessions. The hands-on workshops resulted in the creative ideation of the students work which was presented towards the end of the sessions.