Shah Alam, Malaysia — Bastian Limbong, a student in the Master of Islamic Economics (MES) Study Program at the Faculty of Islamic Economics and Business (FEBI) of UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta who is participating in a student exchange program at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Shah Alam, attended as an invitee at the “Innovative Food Product Development Competition”. The competition, which carried the theme “Transforming Fruit Waste Into Wealth,” was held on Thursday, January 15, 2026, in the Foyer of the Faculty of Applied Sciences and Room A401 of the local campus.

As part of the academic and cultural enrichment agenda during the exchange program, this event was attended by dozens of students, lecturers, and invited guests from within and outside the campus. Bastian had the opportunity to witness firsthand the creative process of UiTM students in creating innovative food products that transform fruit waste into items of economic value. "It was truly inspiring to see the participants' enthusiasm and creativity. They focused not only on flavor innovation but also on the principles of sustainability and waste reduction. From a sharia economics perspective, this aligns with the concept of maslahah (maslahah) and optimal resource utilization," said Bastian Limbong, a student at the Islamic Economics Department of UIN Sunan Kalijaga who attended the event as an observer. The competition featured various product prototypes, including jam made from fruit peels, fermented drinks made from pineapple waste, and snacks made from fruit pulp.

Participants were judged based on innovation, commercial feasibility, environmental impact, and business presentations. The event was packed with interactive exhibition booths, allowing visitors like Bastian to engage in direct discussions with participating teams. The presence of international students like Bastian also enriched the event's dynamics, making it a platform for cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary exchange of insights. "As a sharia economics student, I was intrigued to see how these sustainability values ​​can be integrated with responsible business models. This experience provided a new perspective that is highly relevant to my studies," he added.

The event concluded with a group photo session between participants, committee members, and guests, and the presentation of prizes to the winners. Bastian hopes that the experience of witnessing this type of competition will inspire him to develop similar ideas aligned with Islamic economic principles, both in research and implementation in Indonesia. This activity serves as a form of academic engagement that supports networking and the exchange of ideas between exchange students from UIN Sunan Kalijaga and the local campus community, strengthening Indonesia-Malaysia academic ties in the areas of sustainable food innovation and the green economy.