By: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nor Fazliyana Mohtar, Centre for Entrepreneurship and Graduate Employability (UMT-GEM)

In support of the national entrepreneurship agenda, UMT has formed a strategic collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) to organize the Future Entrepreneurs in Food Security Convention (FEAST).

FEAST is a national-level convention that brings together 1,000 student entrepreneurs from more than 25 Malaysian public institutions of higher learning. This initiative aims to enhance student engagement in entrepreneurship and empower them to become ideal entrepreneurs capable of creating employment opportunities within their communities.

Through FEAST, student entrepreneurs will gain hands-on experience in business management, marketing, and in leveraging technology, innovation, and digital tools to scale their ventures, ultimately culminating in the establishment of student-led Start-Ups by the end of the convention.

FEAST emphasizes the agenda of food security, one of UMT’s areas of specialisation. UMT has been recognized by Talentbank with the Employer’s Choice Award for 2024 and 2025 under the Food Science and Technology cluster.

Food security serves as the primary theme for students’ business ideas, where they will innovate with the integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) elements.

Through a successful competitive pitching exercise, the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Graduate Employability (UMT-GEM) secured a grant of RM166,015 to support the implementation of this high-impact programme, which has been positioned as UMT’s flagship high-impact entrepreneurial initiative for 2025. FEAST is one of the several initiatives by UMT-GEM. The centre has taken proactive steps to invigorate the student entrepreneurship ecosystem.

The FEAST Bootcamp was recently held at UMT to bring together participating students and mentors from all institutions in preparation for the main convention in November 2025.

Held from 17–20 April, the bootcamp provided participants with a series of business insights and essential elements crucial for the upcoming convention. The four-day session also featured expert mentorship sessions and networking opportunities with successful Malaysian entrepreneurs.

The bootcamp was well-received by the participants. Asran, a student from Universiti Malaysia Sabah, was grateful for the enriching experience.

“I truly enjoyed my stay at the bootcamp,” he said. “I am hopeful that I can take all the knowledge and experience I gained from FEAST Bootcamp and apply it to develop and grow my business idea.”

The next phase involves a six-month product development period, during which students will complete their projects at their respective institutions, culminating in a final project showcase in November.

As the entrepreneurial spirit continues to thrive among Malaysian youth, initiatives like FEAST play a vital role in shaping resilient, innovative, and business-savvy graduates. With continued support and collaboration between universities, industries, and government agencies, the seeds planted during FEAST are expected to grow into sustainable ventures that will meaningfully contribute to the nation’s economy.