Opportunities in the Business World for Graduates from Gardenia and UiTM: 2026 Apprenticeship Program

A significant step has been taken to facilitate the transition into the business world for students and graduates of MARA University of Technology (UiTM), one of Malaysia's leading higher education institutions. Gardenia Bakeries (KL) Sdn. Bhd., one of the country's well-known bakery firms, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the UiTM Selangor Branch. This formal agreement sets the stage for the launch of a comprehensive apprenticeship program named 'Gardenia x UiTM Apprenticeship 2026'. This collaboration aims to strengthen university-industry relations and enable young people to gain real market experience. Thus, it aims to increase the employment rates and employability of graduates.

Within the scope of the newly launched program, participants are introduced in detail to the various dimensions of the food product development process. Students have the opportunity to receive intensive training in critical areas such as R&D studies, innovation, brand positioning, and marketing strategies. Additionally, young people are encouraged to generate their own original ideas by working on Gardenia's Ready-to-Eat product line. This process, which includes popular brands such as QuickBites, PUAZZ!, Toast'em Waffles, Squiggles, and Twiggies, provides participants with a practical design vision. The company's initiative allows students to experience product development in a real corporate environment.

Senior Marketing Manager of Gardenia Bakeries, Puan Ena Suhaila Abas, detailed the value the company places on young people and the vision of this program. Emphasizing that they believe youth is the country's most valuable asset, Abas stated that the program achieves much more than just opening doors in the sector. The company aims for participants to learn to think not only as employees but also as entrepreneurs, product inventors, and brand strategists. This innovative approach is expected to contribute to the cultivation of dynamic and versatile professionals who can adapt to the industry. Among the firm's long-term goals is discovering young potential early on and integrating them into the sector.

Prof. Dr. Ahmad Taufek Abdul Rahman, Acting Rector of the UiTM Selangor Branch, also stated that this strategic collaboration offers a unique advantage for students. The Rector specifically emphasized that students get to experience working and taking on responsibilities in a real industry environment before graduating. It was reported that the apprenticeship program planned for 2026 will be organized on a large scale, covering 22 different UiTM campuses across the Malay Peninsula. In this comprehensive organization, 110 lucky students are directly included and subjected to intensive vocational training. Furthermore, thanks to a dietary habits survey conducted with the participation of over 2.200 students, Gardenia is analyzing the lifestyle of Generation Z more closely.

Promotional tours and events organized on university campuses constitute another important leg of the project. In this context, Gardenia visits all relevant campuses, distributing more than 11.000 Ready-to-Eat food packages to students. This initiative not only allows the company to promote its products directly to the target audience but also strengthens the bond between the industry and the future workforce. Company officials believe that such sincere interactions and social responsibility projects increase brand loyalty. The university administration is also very proud to see its graduates step into the business world as well-equipped individuals who will contribute to the country's economy.