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Connecting Halal principles with science and technology to broaden opportunities for secondary school students
Melaka, February 4, 2026 - In line with its Halal commitment and dedicated efforts to empower young Malaysians, Nestlé Malaysia recently partnered with Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) to introduce a Halal@STEM learning programme for secondary school students. Taking place at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Bukit Baru, Melaka, this initiative provided students with hands-on exposure on how science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) principles are applied in the Halal industry.
Nasrul Hadi Mohamed Nor, Head of Halal Affairs, Nestlé Malaysia (back row, fourth from right), with Dr. Shafinah Binti Kamarudin, from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) alongside representatives from Halal Products Research Institute, UPM and students commemorating the Halal@STEM programme at SMK Bukit Baru, Melaka. The initiative provides hands-on learning experiences connecting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) with Halal principles.
Developed in collaboration with UPM’s Halal Products Research Centre, Halal@STEM aims to showcase how scientific knowledge and technology supports Halal integrity across the entire food and beverage manufacturing value chain – from ingredients and processing to quality assurance and consumer trust. Nestlé Malaysia draws on its deep industry expertise to bring real‑world Halal knowledge to students through this initiative.
Nasrul Hadi Mohamed Nor, Head of Halal Affairs, Nestlé Malaysia, said, "Halal@STEM represents an important step in how we engage with young people on the relevance of Halal. 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 better understand 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.”
(Far left) Nasrul Hadi Mohamed Nor, Head of Halal Affairs, Nestlé Malaysia, with students from SMK Bukit Baru, Melaka taking part in the interactive Halal@STEM sessions.
Puan Nor Hafizah binti Musa, Headmistress of SMK Bukit Baru, Melaka, shared, "We are very pleased to take part in this Halal@STEM programme which sparks our students’ interest in STEM and how it connects to the Halal industry. They were able to see science in action and understand its application in everyday life. This has provided a meaningful learning experience beyond the classroom, helping to prepare our students for to be future-ready and helps 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.”
Nestlé Malaysia and UPM bring Halal STEM learning to schools.
(Front row, fifth from right) Nasrul Hadi Mohamed Nor, Head of Halal Affairs, Nestlé Malaysia, alongside Dr. Yazid Bin Yaakob (front row, sixth from right), Head of Laboratory, Halal Products Research Institute, UPM, with Nestlé, UPM representatives and students of SMK Bukit Baru, Melaka.
Over 174 students took part in interactive sessions centred on STEM topics, such as Halal authentication under the microscope, knowing the difference between synthetic and animal fur, developing mobile apps to verify Halal products, working with Artificial Intelligence (AI) teachable machines, producing Sertu soap, creating water filters and calculating nutritional panels. These made STEM concepts more tangible while highlighting their direct role in Halal compliance, quality and innovation.
Hazin Irfan Bin Mohd Norhakim, one of the participating students from SMK Bukit Baru shared, “The activities were fun and different from our usual lessons. I learned that STEM is not only about science and technology, but also extends to areas such as food manufacturing. I also learned that Halal in STEM is about ensuring that food is clean, safe, Halal, nutritious and of good quality. We also gained a lot of knowledge, especially in understanding how to read nutrition labels and their importance. It also helped me understand how STEM plays a role in our daily choices.”
Students of SMK Bukit Baru participating in hands-on Halal@STEM activities, exploring science, technology, and innovation in the Halal industry.
The programme in Melaka follows a successful pilot at SMK Pelagat, Terengganu, and represents the next step in Nestlé Malaysia’s efforts to scale Halal STEM education nationwide. This also aligns with the Ministry of Education’s call to embed Halal awareness and STEM competencies in schools, supporting the development of an industry-relevant talent pipeline. By linking STEM with real-world Halal applications and sharing Nestlé’s industry expertise, the programme opens students’ eyes to the opportunities within Malaysia’s growing Halal ecosystem.
About Nestlé Malaysia: Nourishing Malaysians for Over a Century
Since 1912, Nestlé has been dedicated to nourishing Malaysians and building their trust through our high-quality brands and products. We contribute to food security as well as to the health and well-being of the Rakyat through our trusted brands and a long-term commitment to Malaysia in the form of investments, employment, and various initiatives that uplift local communities. Today, we operate six factories, employing over 5,000 Malaysians, and we are the Halal Centre of Excellence for Nestlé globally. We are committed to providing halal, nutritious, and high-quality products with sustainability at the heart of our business practices - Made in Malaysia, by Malaysians, for all Malaysians.
As the world's largest food and beverage manufacturer, with our headquarters based in Switzerland, Nestlé operates in over 180 countries. With a workforce of over 270,000 dedicated employees, we are driven by our purpose to unlock the power of food, enhancing the quality of life for everyone, both today and for future generations. Our commitment to nutrition, health, and wellness guides our performance, ensuring we deliver on our promise of GOOD FOOD, GOOD LIFE.
To discover more about our century-long journey of nourishing Malaysians, please visit our website at https://www.nestle.com.my/ask-nestle/we-are-nestle.
For more information, please contact:
Shaheen Zaffar
Nestlé (Malaysia) Berhad
Tel: (+603) 7965 6456
E-mail: [email protected]
Nik Wardah or Yasmin Kadir
acorn communications
Tel: (+603) 7958 8348
E-mail: [email protected]
