Culinology Students Shine at CP CUP 2025 Global Competition

18 Mar 2026

4 Min Read

Taylor's Team (Editor)

In This Article

The Bachelor of Science (Hons) Culinology programme marked another significant milestone on the international stage through its students’ strong showing at CP CUP 2025, an industry-driven innovation and business competition organised by Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group) and hosted in Thailand.

In its second year as an international platform, CP CUP 2025 drew an exceptional response across the region, with 70,536 students forming 22,761 teams from universities across 10 countries. Following the initial rounds, 180 teams advanced to the National Round, culminating in 15 winning teams from 9 countries progressing to the Semi-Final Global Round — the Track Titans League, held on 23 January 2026.

Industry Engagement and Academic Leadership

The Culinology® programme’s participation stemmed from direct engagement with CP Malaysia, which approached the programme to be part of the CP CUP ecosystem. Dr Wendy Lim Pek Kui coordinated the CP Food Malaysia linkage and competition alignment, while Professor Chong Li Choo led the technical coaching, ensuring scientific depth, clarity, and robustness in Food R&D development.

This close industry–academic collaboration enabled students to experience how innovation is evaluated within a corporate and regional context, bridging academic learning with industry expectations.

Group of students participating in the competition

Track Titans League: Food R&D Category Winner

Representing Malaysia in the Food R&D track, Z-Team from Taylor’s University emerged as National Champions, earning their place in the Track Titans League (Semi-Final Global Round).

At this stage, teams competed within their respective tracks against counterparts from across Asia and ASEAN. Z-Team’s presentation stood out for its strong product rationale, feasibility, and application relevance, leading them to be announced as the Food R&D Track Winner — as officially recognised by CP Group in their Track Titans League announcement.

This achievement positioned Z-Team among the four category-winning teams, each representing a different competition track, advancing to the final phase of CP CUP 2025.

The Nexus Challenge: Final Global Round

The competition culminated in 'The Nexus Challenge', the Final Global Round of CP CUP 2025. Only four finalist teams — winners from Food R&D, Practical Marketing, Healthy Breeding, and Digital Innovation — were selected to participate.

Held at the C.P. Leadership Institute, The Nexus Challenge was a 24-hour intensive business case competition, designed to test participants’ ability to synthesise ideas into viable business strategies under significant time pressure. Teams were required to analyse complex scenarios, make strategic decisions, and defend their proposals before senior evaluators.

For the Culinology® students, this stage marked a critical shift from Food R&D into integrated business problem-solving. Drawing on their interdisciplinary training, Z-Team applied scientific reasoning, cost awareness, market logic, and teamwork while competing against finalists from other tracks.

At the conclusion of The Nexus Challenge, Z-Team achieved 2nd Place Overall, standing among the top teams across all categories in the CP CUP 2025 Global Round.

A Reflection of the Culinology® Learning Experience

This journey reflects the distinctive strengths of the Bachelor of Science (Hons) Culinology programme, where food science, product development, and applied business thinking converge. Throughout the experience, students were assessed not only on their technical competence, but also on their ability to respond to industry-driven briefs, communicate ideas clearly to diverse audiences, adapt strategies under pressure, and collaborate effectively in high-stakes environments.

Equally significant was the exposure gained on a global stage. Students engaged with peers and industry professionals across different cultures, disciplines, and expectations, developing a broader perspective of the industry while sharpening their ability to operate with confidence in an international context.

Looking Ahead

The CP CUP 2025 experience has strengthened industry ties, broadened student exposure, and reaffirmed the value of experiential, industry-linked learning within the Culinology® programme. It stands as a clear example of how academic preparation, supported by trusted industry collaboration, equips students to contribute confidently to the future of food innovation and business.

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