News & Events | Events at INTI INTI Student Tastes Success with Winning Brew | February 10, 2011 Talent, passion and perseverance were vital ingredients for a special brew that won Yap Wai Yee the Nestle Milano Coffee Challenge Champion title. It took Yap three months of practice and two days of grueling competition to come up with an exceptional blend with just the right appearance, aroma and flavor to impress the judges.     Yap Wai Yee displays poise and confidence before the judges.   A final year student of Genting INTI International College (GIIC), Yap was awarded a cash prize of RM1,500, a trophy and a certificate by the event organizers, NESTLE Professional and MFBEA (Malaysian Food & Beverage Executive Association). For his tireless dedication in coaching Yap on the art of coffee preparation and presentation right up to competition day, Mohd Taib Matali @ Matt, Head of F&B Division at GIIC, was presented with the Winning Coach Award.

“I saw great potential in Wai Yee based on her eagerness to learn and drive to succeed. Her zeal was apparent when I approached her to join the competition and she accepted without a second thought. She was also willing to train under my strict supervision,” said Mohd Taib.

“Mr Matt, as my coach is popularly known among students, taught me not only the fine art of coffee making but also stressed the importance of hygiene, grooming and presentation,” said Yap. “During the competition, I executed the techniques we had refined and garnished my coffee before the judges while providing nutritional facts about the ingredients.

“From my unique performance, the judges were convinced I was a professional barista and were surprised when Mr Matt informed them I had only practised for three months.”     Yap Wai Yee stands proud with her awards   Yap is exemplary of INTI hospitality students who are equipped with a truly holistic knowledge base encompassing the culinary arts, management and communication skills, and including foreign languages. Through INTI’s ‘Problem-based’ and ‘Project-based’ learning approaches, students develop problem-solving, analytical, critical-thinking, leadership and teamwork abilities.

At INTI’s School of Hospitality in Subang Jaya, the Swiss Hospitality Education Model is adopted and refined with the aim of balancing and integrating theoretical knowledge with practical training; giving students the opportunity to practise what they have learned.

Students are also exposed to learning beyond the classroom through activities such as field trips to hotels and food service establishments, and participation in industry seminars, workshops and competitions. Moreover, students undergo industry placements resulting in experience in real-life work environments.

Students of INTI benefit not only from the years of experience and strong track record that INTI offers, but also gain from the global synergy and resources that Laureate International Universities provides. INTI is a part of Laureate, the world’s largest private education network with a presence in 25 countries, with more than 55 accredited campus-based and online universities and 130 campuses, serving over 600,000 students globally.   For more information on INTI‘s hospitality programmes, call 03-5623 2800 or visit www.newinti.edu.my.