TCI in the Spotlight: Redefining Canned Food at Yeo’s Culinary Class Wars

Taylor’s Culinary Institute (TCI) was exclusively selected by Yeo’s Malaysia to participate in the 2025 Caramu Snap & Share: Culinary Class Wars, a prestigious culinary competition that challenged students to reimagine canned food through innovative transformation. Coordinated by Ms. Tracy Wong Fang Lian, who served as project lead and liaison, the initiative fostered strong collaboration between TCI and Yeo’s while encouraging active student participation.

Eighteen students representing all three TCI bachelor programmes competed in Round 1, creatively reinventing canned products into imaginative and elevated dishes. Following a rigorous evaluation, five exceptional finalists advanced to the live cook-off, which took place on 30 June 2025 at Kitchen Showdown, Bukit Jalil. In the final challenge, contestants had 60 minutes to prepare a three-course meal, an appetizer and dessert from provided recipes, and a main course crafted from a mystery box of ingredients.

A distinguished judging panel comprising Mr. Mohamad Halim Merican, CHA; Chef Dong, Ms. Lorraine Tan, and Ms. Tracy Wong Fang Lian evaluated the competitors. The cash prizes were generously sponsored by Yeo’s Malaysia, underscoring the strong partnership between industry and academia.

• Champion: Hansen Wijaya (Bachelor of Patisserie Arts) — RM2,000

• 1st Runner-Up: Kyrabelle Joanne Wynn (Bachelor of Culinary Management, Year 1 Semester 2) — RM1,000

• 2nd Runner-Up: Ivan Herru Putra (Bachelor of Culinary Management, Year 2 Semester 4) — RM500

• Honourable Mentions:

  - Ramethra Elisha Raj (BSc in Culinology, Year 2 Semester 4) — RM300

  - Marcelino Eugine Kurniawan (Bachelor of Culinary Management, Year 1 Semester 2) — RM300

  
  

  

Alongside their cash prizes, all finalists received certificates of achievement, hampers of Yeo’s food products, and were spotlighted on Yeo’s official social media platforms. This collaboration celebrated the creativity and technical expertise of TCI’s student chefs and food innovators, reaffirming the institute’s commitment to nurturing future professionals who continue to redefine the boundaries of modern cuisine.

Wings to Soar: A Defining Milestone at Taylor’s ADTP Class of 2025 Commencement Ceremony

Marking a defining milestone, the Taylor's American Degree Transfer Programme (ADTP) Class of 2025 gathered with faculty, family, and peers for their commencement ceremony. The occasion not only celebrated academic achievements but also signified the graduates’ readiness to embark on the next stage of their educational and professional journeys. The ceremony commenced with a welcome address by Prof. Dr. Anindita Dasgupta, Head of the School of Liberal Arts & Sciences, who expressed pride in the graduates’ accomplishments. She highlighted how Taylor’s ADTP has instilled a global perspective, preparing students for continued success at prestigious universities worldwide.

The keynote address was delivered by YB Danial Al-Rashid Bin Haron Aminar Rashid, State Assemblyman of Batu Tiga, Selangor, who urged the Class of 2025 to embrace leadership, resilience, and social responsibility. He underscored integrity and community service as guiding principles for meaningful and impactful careers. Adding to the day’s reflections, Dr. Loh Kah Heng, Programme Director of ADTP, spoke on the programme’s steady growth and reaffirmed its commitment to academic excellence. He commended the graduating class for their achievements in research, student-led initiatives, and innovation, underscoring ADTP’s reputation for cultivating globally competitive graduates.

Academic excellence was further recognised through the AmInvestment Bank Book Prize Awards, presented by Ms. Angel Lim, Head of Corporate Affairs at AmInvestment Bank, alongside the Honors Student Awards, presented by Prof. Dr. Anindita, honouring students for their outstanding distinction. A highlight of the afternoon was the valedictory address by Mr. Muhammad Khujaev, who reflected on the challenges, achievements, and camaraderie that defined his cohort’s journey. His heartfelt words resonated deeply with the audience, and he was presented with a souvenir symbolising his role as the voice of the Class of 2025.

The celebration concluded with a cake-cutting ceremony and the premiere of “Wings to Soar”, a video chronicling the ADTP journey, followed by light refreshments. Taylor’s University proudly congratulates the ADTP Class of 2025, who now take flight toward global academic and professional success.

Harnessing AI in Education: Enriching Learning, Empowering Educators

Taylor’s University’s School of Education (SoED) recently conducted a professional development workshop on AI in Education for approximately 180 educators from the International Modern Arabic School (IMAS), Wilayah Persekutuan Putrajaya. The two-day programme, held on 19 and 20 August, was designed and delivered by a specialised team of SoED lecturers, including Dr. Vinothini Vasodavan, Dr. Mindy Tay Pei Lin, Dr. Tan Shin Yen, Dr. Thivilojana Perinpasingam, Dr. Lee Yee Ling, and Tasnim Jannat Nijhu, SoED scholar. The comprehensive curriculum offered hands-on experience with cutting-edge Artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as Magic School AI, Brisk Teaching AI, Gemini, Perplexity, ChatGPT, Canva AI, and NotebookLM.

The workshop emphasised practical applications, equipping teachers with skills in key areas such as AI-powered lesson planning, differentiated instruction, innovative teaching material development, and the design of effective assessment tasks. In addition, participants were introduced to emerging AI tools for creating avatars, building websites, and documenting students’ project-based learning experiences.

This collaboration underscores Taylor’s University’s role as a leader in educational technology and a key partner in cultivating a future-ready teaching force. Feedback from participants reflected their confidence in applying these tools to enhance student creativity, streamline workflows, and seamlessly integrate emerging technologies into their classrooms, fostering more engaging and effective learning experiences.