Innovating for Community Impact: Taylor’s University Highlights the Nourish-U Project at TTLC 2025

As part of Taylor’s Impact Lab Showcase at the 16th Taylor’s Teaching and Learning Conference (TTLC) 2025 the Nourish-U project was prominently featured under the Food Security and Nutrition Impact Lab. The exhibition underscored how student-led initiatives contribute to advancing sustainable nutrition and food security through applied innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration.

The exhibition booth presented an engaging display of project posters, product prototypes, and student testimonial videos, offering insight into how the Nourish-U initiative effectively bridges academic learning with community engagement. Established in 2023, the project focuses on developing nutritious meals from surplus food ingredients such as okara, stale bread, and fish. To date, the team has successfully distributed over 500 meals to underserved children in communities including Buku Jalanan Chow Kit, Projek Perumahan Rakyat (PPR) Desa Mentari, and Taman Medan Cahaya.

More than 200 students from four interdisciplinary modules have participated in the initiative, with Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Culinology students taking a leading role. Through the Experimental Food Products and Practices (EFPP) module, students developed innovative, nutrient-dense products such as protein-rich fish nuggets, vegetable-based noodles, savoury sauces, and lasagne designed to meet children’s dietary needs.

Further contributions from the Food Processing and Food Microbiology modules, involving students from both the Culinology and Food Science programmes, strengthened the scientific rigour of the project through safety validation, shelf-life testing, and feasibility assessments under real-world conditions. A key highlight of the exhibition was the visit by YB Dato’ Seri Diraja Dr. Zambry Abdul Kadir, Minister of Higher Education, Malaysia, who commended the students’ innovative work and their contribution to community well-being through sustainable food solutions.

The participation of Nourish-U at TTLC 2025 reflects Taylor’s University’s unwavering commitment to advancing experiential learning and impactful research aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Good Health and Well-Being (SDG 3), and Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12).

“Education extends beyond the classroom. The Nourish-U initiative exemplifies how purposeful learning and innovation can create meaningful and lasting impact, fostering both academic excellence and social responsibility.”