QIU has once again proven its culinary prowess on the international stage, as all eight of its representatives clinched awards at the prestigious Food and Hospitality Malaysia (FHM) Culinaire Competition 2025.
The University sent two lecturers and six students to this year’s competition, and each of them returned with accolades—an outstanding achievement given the intense level of competition. Participants faced formidable challengers from Taiwan, Korea, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Brunei, and Singapore, alongside established names in the hospitality industry.
Among the competing institutions were world-renowned hotels such as Intercontinental Hotel KL, Shangri-La Hotel KL, Four Seasons Hotel KL, EQ KL, Grand Hyatt KL, Double Tree by Hilton KL, One World Hotel, W Hotel, Banyan Tree KL, and Pullman KL.
QIU’s competitors also went head-to-head against fellow Malaysian universities, including Sunway University, UCSI University, City University Malaysia, and Universiti Tun Hussein Onn. In the heat of the kitchen battle, QIU’s students and lecturers demonstrated that their skills could match and surpass professionals with decades of industry experience.
Here’s the full list of winners:
| NAME | CATEGORY | AWARD |
| Vijvval Nagarajan | Lamb | Bronze |
| Ooi Yet Shen | Fish | Diploma |
| Kavitarsyini A/P Kumar | Malaysian Heritage | Diploma |
| Thibanraaj A/L Morgana | Beef | Bronze |
| Livesh A/L Kunalan | Pasta | Bronze |
| Cheng Mun Wy | Malaysian Heritage | Bronze |
| Noor Asneeda binti Ishak | Fish | Bronze |
| Farzana Nadya binti Momtaz Ahmad | Lamb | Diploma |
“This achievement showcases the quality of experiential, hands-on learning that QIU prioritises. Our students not only gained the confidence to compete against the best in the world but also demonstrated that they can excel on the biggest stages,” said Associate Prof Dr Ng Mei Leng, Head of QIU’s School of Hospitality.
The victory is part of a proud legacy of excellence for QIU at Culinaire competitions. In 2019, QIU chefs won eight awards, marking the University’s emergence in the culinary education scene (read more here). That success was followed in 2022, when QIU continued its winning streak by bagging seven awards, further cementing its reputation as a hub for culinary talent (read more here). In total, our tally stands at a proud 23 awards!
The 2025 victory continues a proud tradition, but with an extraordinary twist—all of QIU’s eight representatives emerged as winners. This clean sweep is a clear indicator that the University’s practical training, rigorous curriculum, and exposure to real-world challenges are producing graduates and educators who can compete shoulder-to-shoulder with the best.
QIU congratulates its lecturers and students on this remarkable accomplishment, which underscores the University’s commitment to shaping industry-ready professionals who are capable of excelling locally, regionally, and internationally.
