UNIMEL STUDENTS SHINE AT THE GLOBAL CULINARY CHALLENGE MALAYSIA 2026

Seremban, Negeri Sembilan – A total of 16 students from the Diploma in Hospitality Management programme, Faculty of Business, Hospitality and Technology (FPHT), Universiti Islam Melaka (UNIMEL), brought pride to the university after earning recognition at the Global Culinary Challenge Malaysia 2026 (GCCM2026).

Recognised as one of Malaysia’s most prestigious culinary competitions, GCCM2026 brings together professional chefs, culinary educators, students from higher education institutions, vocational colleges, skills institutes, and emerging culinary talents from Malaysia and abroad. The competition was organised in conjunction with the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 campaign and various state tourism initiatives aimed at reinforcing Malaysia’s position as a premier global gastronomic destination.

Held under the theme “Taste, Travel and Talent,” GCCM2026 served not only as a culinary competition but also as a platform to celebrate Malaysia’s rich culinary heritage, promote its diverse food culture, and strengthen collaboration between the gastronomy, hospitality, and tourism industries. The 2026 edition was hosted across three locations—Bintulu (Sarawak), Kuala Lumpur, and Seremban (Negeri Sembilan)—introducing a nationwide gastronomic journey that connected East and West Malaysia. Participants were evaluated by a panel of distinguished culinary professionals based on technical proficiency, creativity, presentation, time management, and adherence to professional industry standards.

Representing UNIMEL, the students competed in three major categories:

• Nyonya Heritage Meal
• Asian Noodle Delight
• Rendang Meal

Their dedication, discipline, and unwavering commitment resulted in an outstanding achievement, with all 16 participants receiving official recognition. The contingent was awarded:

• Bronze Medal
• Diploma Award

These accomplishments reflect the students’ technical competence, creativity, professionalism, and confidence in performing at a highly competitive national culinary event. The recognition also highlights the quality of education and hands-on industry training provided by UNIMEL’s Diploma in Hospitality Management programme in preparing graduates who meet the evolving needs of the hospitality and culinary sectors.

The UNIMEL contingent was led by Chef Azman bin Ripin as Head of Contingent, assisted by Chef Awang, and accompanied by three dedicated lecturers: Pn. Siti Mahera binti Ahmat Amin, Pn. Dziela binti Muhamad Parid, and Cik Nurul Liyana Hussin. Their guidance, mentorship, and continuous support played an instrumental role in preparing the students throughout the competition.

Participation in GCCM2026 provided students with invaluable experiential learning opportunities through exposure to professional culinary competition standards while enhancing their technical expertise, creativity, communication skills, teamwork, and professional competitiveness within the hospitality industry.

This remarkable achievement not only enhances the reputation of Universiti Islam Melaka (UNIMEL) but also demonstrates the University’s unwavering commitment to producing competent, industry-ready graduates equipped with the knowledge, skills, and professionalism required to excel in the hospitality and culinary sectors at both national and international levels.

UNIMEL hopes that this success will inspire more students to pursue excellence and innovation while further strengthening the University’s standing as a leading institution in hospitality and culinary education.

PELAJAR UNIMEL CEMERLANG DI GLOBAL CULINARY CHALLENGE MALAYSIA 2026

Seremban, Negeri Sembilan – Seramai 16 orang pelajar Program Diploma Pengurusan Perhotelan, Fakulti Perniagaan, Hospitaliti dan Teknologi (FPHT), Universiti Islam Melaka (UNIMEL), telah mengharumkan nama universiti apabila berjaya meraih pengiktirafan dalam Global Culinary Challenge Malaysia 2026 (GCCM2026).

Diiktiraf sebagai antara pertandingan kulinari paling berprestij di Malaysia, GCCM2026 menghimpunkan chef profesional, tenaga pengajar kulinari, pelajar institusi pengajian tinggi, kolej vokasional, institusi kemahiran serta bakat-bakat kulinari dari dalam dan luar negara. Pertandingan ini dianjurkan bersempena dengan kempen Tahun Melawat Malaysia 2026 (Visit Malaysia Year 2026) serta pelbagai inisiatif pelancongan negeri yang bertujuan memperkukuh kedudukan Malaysia sebagai destinasi gastronomi bertaraf dunia.

Bertemakan “Taste, Travel and Talent”, GCCM2026 bukan sekadar pertandingan memasak, malah menjadi platform untuk meraikan warisan kulinari Malaysia, mempromosikan kepelbagaian budaya makanan tempatan, serta mengukuhkan kerjasama antara industri gastronomi, hospitaliti dan pelancongan. Edisi 2026 telah berlangsung di tiga lokasi utama, iaitu Bintulu (Sarawak), Kuala Lumpur dan Seremban (Negeri Sembilan), sekali gus memperkenalkan konsep jelajah gastronomi yang menghubungkan Malaysia Timur dan Malaysia Barat. Semua penyertaan dinilai oleh barisan juri profesional berdasarkan aspek kemahiran teknikal, kreativiti, persembahan hidangan, pengurusan masa serta pematuhan kepada piawaian industri kulinari.

Mewakili UNIMEL, para pelajar telah bertanding dalam tiga kategori utama, iaitu:

• Nyonya Heritage Meal
• Asian Noodle Delight
• Rendang Meal

Kesungguhan, disiplin dan komitmen tinggi yang ditunjukkan sepanjang pertandingan membuahkan hasil yang membanggakan apabila kesemua 16 orang peserta berjaya menerima pengiktirafan rasmi. Kontinjen UNIMEL berjaya meraih:

• Pingat Gangsa (Bronze Medal)
• Anugerah Diploma (Diploma Award)

Pencapaian ini membuktikan bahawa pelajar UNIMEL bukan sahaja memiliki kemahiran teknikal yang mantap dalam bidang penyediaan makanan, malah turut menampilkan kreativiti, profesionalisme dan keyakinan diri yang tinggi untuk bersaing di pentas kulinari bertaraf kebangsaan. Pengiktirafan yang diterima juga mencerminkan kualiti pendidikan serta latihan praktikal yang ditawarkan menerusi Program Diploma Pengurusan Perhotelan UNIMEL dalam melahirkan graduan yang memenuhi keperluan industri hospitaliti dan kulinari yang sentiasa berkembang.

Kontinjen UNIMEL diketuai oleh Chef Azman bin Ripin selaku Ketua Kontinjen, dibantu oleh Chef Awang, serta diiringi oleh tiga orang pensyarah, iaitu Pn. Siti Mahera binti Ahmat Amin, Pn. Dziela binti Muhamad Parid dan Cik Nurul Liyana Hussin. Bimbingan, tunjuk ajar dan sokongan berterusan daripada barisan pensyarah ini memainkan peranan penting dalam memastikan para pelajar bersedia menghadapi pertandingan sepanjang proses persediaan sehingga tamat pertandingan.

Penyertaan dalam GCCM2026 telah memberikan pengalaman pembelajaran berasaskan amali yang amat bernilai kepada para pelajar melalui pendedahan kepada standard pertandingan kulinari profesional. Pengalaman ini turut memperkukuh kemahiran teknikal, kreativiti, komunikasi, kerja berpasukan serta meningkatkan daya saing mereka dalam industri hospitaliti.

Kejayaan ini bukan sahaja mengharumkan nama Universiti Islam Melaka (UNIMEL), malah membuktikan komitmen berterusan universiti dalam melahirkan graduan yang kompeten, berkemahiran tinggi dan bersedia memenuhi keperluan industri hospitaliti serta kulinari di peringkat nasional dan antarabangsa.

UNIMEL berharap kejayaan ini akan menjadi inspirasi kepada lebih ramai pelajar untuk terus mengejar kecemerlangan, memperkasa budaya inovasi serta mengukuhkan lagi kedudukan universiti sebagai institusi yang melahirkan bakat profesional dalam bidang hospitaliti dan kulinari.