KUALA LUMPUR: Nestle Malaysia has partnered with Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) to introduce a Halal@STEM learning programme for secondary school students, reinforcing its Halal commitment while empowering young Malaysians with industry-relevant knowledge.
In a statement, Nestle said Halal@STEM, developed with UPM’s Halal Products Research Centre, showcases how science and technology uphold Halal integrity across the food and beverage value chain, from ingredients and processing to quality assurance and consumer trust.
Head of Halal Affairs Nasrul Hadi Mohamed Nor said Halal@STEM represents an important step in engaging young people on the relevance of Halal, noting that beyond compliance, Nestlé’s Halal commitment is deeply rooted in science, quality, safety and ethical responsibility.
“As the group’s largest Halal producer and Halal Centre of Excellence, we bring this expertise to the programme. By integrating STEM education with Halal principles, this provides the opportunity for students to understand better how science and technology uphold Halal integrity.
“Through this programme, we hope to inspire young Malaysians to think critically and explore the strong prospects that the Halal STEM sector offers,” he said.
Meanwhile, SMK Bukit Baru, Melaka, headmistress Nor Hafizah Musa said the school was pleased to participate in the Halal@STEM programme, which sparked students’ interest in STEM and its connection to the Halal industry.
“This has provided a meaningful learning experience beyond the classroom, helping to prepare our students to be future-ready and helping maximise the potential of SMK Bukit Bandar students to become global citizens, in line with the strategic pillars of the National Education Plan (RPM) 2026–2035,” she said.
Over 174 students took part in a series of interactive sessions centred on STEM-related topics. These included Halal authentication under the microscope, distinguishing between synthetic and animal fur, developing mobile applications to verify Halal products, working with artificial intelligence (AI) teachable machines, producing Sertu soap, creating water filters and calculating nutritional panels.
