INTI International University & Colleges (INTI) recently inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CY Cergy-Paris Université in an agreement to offer the Bachelor of Culinary Arts & Food Service Management degree programme facilitated by the School of Hospitality at INTI International College Subang. The collaboration will stem a significant relationship between the two institutions besides serving as a platform to share and disseminate French gastronomy and culture in Malaysia.
Chong Kok Wai, Interim Chief Executive Officer and signatory for INTI, shared that the agreement between INTI and CY will greatly benefit students who pursue their dreams in this field.
Chong Kok Wai, Interim Chief Executive Officer and signatory for INTI International University & Colleges addressing guests at the MoU Signing Ceremony between INTI International University & Colleges and CY Cergy-Paris Université.
“INTI’s School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts (SOHOS) prides itself with being able to offer its students international exposure, practical skills, as well as professional and personal development. So what’s great about this collaboration with CY Cergy-Paris Université is that we share a similar mission, which is to provide students with skills – not just hospitality competencies like culinary arts and food service management but also critical and creative thinking skills for an entrepreneurial mindset,” said Kok Wai.
Kok Wai also acknowledged that this cooperation will be a platform to expose students to French gastronomy and culture, and allow faculty and students to widen and exchange knowledge and perspectives.
Prof. Dr. François Germinet, President and signee of the memorandum from CY Cergy-Paris Université is confident that this strategic partnership will broaden horizons for both the institutions.
He further added, “We are privileged to have our students enrolled in this franchise programme registered under the French Education Ministry via CY Cergy-Paris Université. On top of that, we are excited to welcome facilitators from the CY Gastronomy Institute who will fly in to teach students at our Subang campus.”
CY Cergy-Paris Université is located strategically in the capital city of France within the vicinity of many Michelin starred restaurants. Its track record in the city is further amplified through various collaborations between CY’s Gastronomy Institute and world-class Parisian Chefs.
Prof. Dr. François Germinet, President of CY Cergy-Paris Université (top) and Chong Kok Wai, Interim Chief Executive Officer, INTI International University & Colleges (bottom) displaying the signed memorandum of understanding documents at the virtual event.
The CY Gastronomy Institute presents several programmes encircling the culinary arts and restaurant industry that begins from a bachelor’s degree and professional bachelor to a master’s degree. With its headquarters located on the university site of Gennevilliers, France, and having a presence in Vietnam, Mexico, Mauritius and now Malaysia, the faculty incorporates values related to gastronomic excellence and culinary innovation through its programmes[1].
The signee and also the President of CY Cergy-Paris Université, Prof. Dr. François Germinet said, “I’m glad that INTI International University & Colleges and CY Cergy-Paris Université both of which are renowned institutions in their respective regions, have signed this memorandum of understanding. This memorandum will not only represent French culture, it will further enrich the Malaysian culture and Asian values on an international platform.”
Prof. Dr. François Germinet, President of CY Cergy-Paris Université (top), Chong Kok Wai, Interim Chief Executive Officer, INTI International University & Colleges (bottom, left) and Emmanuelle Marchand, Counsellor for Cooperation and Cultural Affairs from the Embassy of France in Malaysia (bottom, centre) pose for a group photograph at the virtual event.
“We, from CY are certain that this strategic partnership will broaden horizons for both the institutions. Students enrolling in the Bachelor of Culinary Arts & Food Service Management degree programme will be privileged to nurture their talents through thorough guidance and industry-relevant trainings in the pursuit of real-world challenges,” concluded Prof. Dr. François during his speech at the virtual event.
In an address that was delivered by Emmanuelle Marchand, Counsellor for Cooperation and Cultural Affairs on behalf of His Excellency Mr Roland Galharague, the Ambassador of France to Malaysia, she mentioned, “This is the first time INTI concludes a partnership with a French university, and for a first, it is a master stroke, if I may say so. I am especially happy to see that this first French partnership for INTI takes place in a field that is absolutely crucial for our two countries, culinary arts.”
Guests from INTI International University & Colleges, CY Cergy-Paris Université and the Embassy of France pose for a group photograph at the end of the virtual event.
On a jovial note, Emmanuelle further added, “I think the gourmet culture is probably the element that brings French and Malaysian people closest to each other. Jom Makan! is definitely an emotion that connects both our nations.”
The Embassy of France trusts that this cooperation is just the first step for CY and INTI and it will pave the way for many other collaborations in Malaysia and beyond. As CY already has a great cooperation in Vietnam with its offsite training at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, it would also be an opportunity to promote triangular cooperation between France, Malaysia and Vietnam and to organize student, faculty and researcher exchanges.