The iFUTURE@UniMAP 2025 programme reached its peak with the UniFEC International Food and Culture Festival, a lively “International Cultural and Food Day” held in conjunction with IFuture 2025. The event was a resounding success, giving UniMAP’s international students a vibrant stage on which to celebrate and share their heritage through food, music and traditional dress. This year saw a record-breaking turnout: nearly 300 students from 18 countries, Mali, Myanmar, Yemen, Egypt, Bangladesh, Syria, Sudan, Algeria, Palestine, Pakistan, Somalia, Libya, Japan, Indonesia, China, Jordan and Vietnam, took part in the festival’s many activities, especially the cultural-exhibition booths. Their presence showcased the rich tapestry of cultures now woven into the UniMAP community. Booths were grouped into five world regions, Middle East, Africa, East Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia, so visitors could “travel the globe” in a single hall. The arrangement fostered lively interactions between local and international students, strengthening camaraderie, mutual respect and cross-cultural understanding.

Guests sampled an enticing spread that included potato paratha, bread halwa, Indonesian mee, falafel, mandi rice, mooncakes with Chinese tea, Japanese mochi and much more. They also tried on traditional attire such as kimono, hanbok, dishdashah making the experience even more immersive. By day’s end, visitors left with fuller stomachs and broader horizons, having tasted new flavours, learned fresh stories and deepened their appreciation for the cultural diversity that powers UniMAP’s global learning environment. Many thanks to International Resident College & Non-Resident - IRCNR, Babaker, Dr Abdullah Mahfoud Salem Baadhem, Dr. Muhammad Sofwan bin Mohamad, Dr. Muhammad Izham bin Ismail, Ms. Angela, Dr Muhammad Irwanto, PM Dr. Cheng Ee Meng, Dr Ahmad Ashraf Abdul Halim and all those that made this possible.