The CEO Day@UPM 2019 was jointly organized by Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) with Faculty of Food Science & Technology (FSTM) as the main secretariat and Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC). The program was organized in conjunction with ‘Love MY Palm Oil’ campaign (LMPO), launched by our Prime Minister YAB Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad on March 24, 2019 at Carey Island, Selangor.
One of the main focus of the LMPO campaign is to cultivate a greater sense of pride for palm oil amongst Malaysian youths, particularly university students and to enable them to recognize and appreciate palm oil’s role in our country’s development. This will be done through educational outreach to create better awareness on the contributions of palm oil in terms of economy, employment, health, living standards, environment and conservation.
The CEO Day@UPM 2019 commenced with a welcoming remark by Prof. Dato’ Dr.-Ing. Ir. Renuganth Varatharajoo, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Industry and Community Relations). It was then followed by the address by YB Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar bin Mohd Akin, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Primary Industries Malaysia. The highlight of the day was the CEO Forum chaired by Dr. Ruslan Abdullah, Science and Environment Director of MPOC with four CEOs from different sectors as panellists. A total of 1,000 participants attended the event.
CEO Forum
The objective of CEO Forum was to bring industry captains to the campus and share their vast expericence with university’s students. The panellists were:
- Nur Fatin Dato’ Seri Haji Ibrahim, Group Managing Director, Dewina Holdings Sdn Bhd.
Challenges and trends in food industry: Do you have what it takes to thrive in the food manufacturing sector?
- Seelan Paul, CEO, Media Prima Radio Networks.
Staying relevant: How to create impact in the current internet age? - Dato’ Azlin Ahmad Shaharbi, President, Association of Bumiputera Women in Business and Profession Malaysia (PENIAGAWATI)
Are you ready to be a successful entrepreneur? - Joseph Tek Choon Yee, CEO & Managing Director, IJM Plantations Berhad
Fun and engaging – Does it sound like the palm oil industry?
Pn. Nur Fatin Dato’ Seri Haji Ibrahim
Mr. Seelan Paul
Dato’ Azlin Ahmad Shaharbi
Mr. Joseph Tek Choon Yee
During the Q&A session, there were huge interest on topic related to palm oil industry judging by the number of questions asked. Participants waited in line to ask question. However, only 12 questions related to oil palm plantation management and breeding, strategies to overcome negative perception of palm oil, industry’s expectation for university student and palm based product marketing among others were discussed, due to the time constraint.
Launching of the UPM Tenera Association (TENERA)
Another highlight of the event was the launching of the UPM Tenera Association (TENERA). TENERA was established as a follow up to the Palm Oil Student Ambassador Program held on 22 December last year. The program was organized by the Faculty of Food Science & Technology, UPM also in collaboration with MPOC. The objective of TENERA is to provide correct and up-to-date information and knowledge on the palm oil industry to students in tertiary institutions, particularly UPM.
Members of TENERA will be groomed as young ambassadors and will be involved in programs related to palm oil industry nationwide. Establishment of TENERA will also help to cultivate leadership skills, better communication skills, whilst propagating effective teamwork spirit among UPM students. To begin with, members of TENERA were directly involved in organizing the CEO Day@UPM 2019.
YB Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar bin Mohd Akin officiated the launch of UPM Tenera Association (TENERA)
Exhibition
Concurrently during the CEO Day@UPM 2019, there were 19 exhibitors from both government and non-government organizations which includes:
- Texas Chicken Malaysia (Sponsor)
- Felcra Berhad (Sponsor)
- Delima Oil Products Sdn Bhd (Sponsor)
- Mac World Industries Sdn Bhd
- Palmiteco Engineering Sdn Bhd
- Palm Milk Station
- PGEO Edible Oils Sdn Bhd
- Food Scienc & Technology UPM – L’Apprenti Café
- Putra Creamery
- Perhilitan
- Putra Science Park UPM
- MPOB
- MPOCC
- WWF-Malaysia,
- Excelvite Sdn. Bhd
- Gold Choice Biotech Sdn Bhd
- Palm Fiber Sdn. Bhd
- Ryverra Chocolate & Confectionery Sdn Bhd.
- UPM Tenera Association
Exhibition booths during the event
Other activities
- Walk-in interview sessions
Several companies participated in the job and internship interview sessions which were held later in the afternoon. Resume drop boxes were also provided by companies unable to participate but yet interested to offer job and internship placements for students.
Interview session by Mac World Industries Sdn Bhd
- Palm Oil intervarsity quiz competition
An intervarsity Palm Oil Quiz Competition with the theme “Palm Oil: History and Science” was held in the afternoon involving 18 pre-selected students from various tertiary institutions. The winners for the competition were:
- First prize: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UPM Serdang
- Second prize: Faculty of Applied Sciences, UCSI University Kuala Lumpur
- Third prize: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UPM Serdang
- Consolation prizes:
- Faculty of Agriculture, UPM Serdang
- Faculty of Faculty of Hotel & Tourism Management, UiTM Puncak Alam
- Faculty of Food Science & Technology, UPM Serdang
Participants of Palm Oil Quiz Competition from UCSI University Kuala Lumpur
- Food tasting and soap making demonstration
Other interactive activities carried out were Foodies Quiz by FSTM UPM and palm based soap making demonstration by MPOC. For the first time, Putra Creamery, a start-up company from the Innohub UPM introduced their Red Palm Oil instant ice cream premix to the public. The instant ice cream premix uses patented technology using red palm oil as one of its ingredient.
Soap making demonstration by SED officer
The program has successfully met its objective to engage university students with the invited CEOs. Having successfully engaged UPM, MPOC plans to expand similar programs and activities to other universities using CEO Day@UPM as a model.
CEO Day@UPM participants
