by Dr. Farawahida Abdul Halim
The Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology (FAST), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) continues to enhance innovative teaching and learning approaches by organizing Foodies Explorer: Growing Together, an interactive programme designed to make learning in the Food Technology programme more engaging, holistic, and enjoyable.
Held on 3 November 2025, the programme has brought together 90 year 1 students from the Food Technology programme supported by six lecturers and 16 facilitators who played key roles in guiding the activities throughout the event.
First-year students were selected as the main target group to provide early exposure to the food technology syllabus while cultivating unity, confidence, and positive interaction among new students.
Utilising a game-based learning approach, the programme integrated food technology concepts through a variety of exciting and challenging activities.
Each participant received instruction to form their own group and select the name based on terms commonly used in the food technology field. This activity helps them familiarize themselves with important terminologies in food technology.
The first session began with Tic-tac-toe activity, which tested students’ foundational knowledge in topics such as food technology, food chemistry, food microbiology, food processing, food safety, HACCP, halal, packaging, labelling, fermentation, biotechnology, and sensory analysis.
This activity not only reinforced cognitive skills but also boosted the students’ confidence in applying what they had learned.
The programme continues with Explore Race, which is the main attraction of the programme that combines interactive learning through five checkpoints: food safety, sensory evaluation of foods, the journey of food through the digestive system, halal logo, and food microbiology.
Each group had to complete tasks at every checkpoint, enabling them to apply theoretical concepts through fun and practical challenges.
To further strengthen teamwork and mental agility, participants also engaged in games such as Poison Ball, Balloon Burst, and Ping Pong Train, which tested group coordination, communication, and strategy.
According to the programme advisor, Dr. Farawahida Binti Abdul Halim, the Foodies Explorer: Growing Together initiative reflects FAST’s commitment to introducing more dynamic and engaging learning approaches for students.
“This programme applies interactive learning through games, where the students’ complete challenges at each checkpoint related to the food technology syllabus. This approach is not only enjoyable but also enhances students’ ability to understand concepts more deeply,” she said.
She added that the learning process is no longer confined to lectures and laboratory sessions but can be strengthened through creative, structured activities that align with students’ interests to cultivate teamwork, unity, leadership, and stronger relationships between students, facilitators, and lecturers.
The programme is expected to inspire more creative teaching initiatives in the future, particularly in strengthening experiential learning within the food technology field.
FAST believes that the values of teamwork, leadership, communication, and creativity nurtured through this programme will help shape students to become more competent and competitive
