APU’s School of Marketing & Management (SoMM) students gain firsthand industry insights during a visit to Ajinomoto Malaysia Berhad., exploring innovation, food science, digital marketing, smart manufacturing and sustainability while connecting classroom learning with real-world business practices.

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What happens when food science, technology, sustainability and marketing come together? For students from Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation’s (APU) School of Marketing & Management (SoMM), the answer becomes clear during an immersive industry visit to Ajinomoto (Malaysia) Berhad.’s state-of-the-art facility in Bandar Enstek, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan.

Led by Ms Harjinder Kaur, Senior Lecturer and Industrial Advisory Panel (IAP) Coordinator, the 30 students delegation brings together postgraduate and undergraduate students from a range of disciplines, including Digital Marketing, International Business Management, Human Resource Management, E-Business, Business Management and International Business Communication.

Guided by Ajinomoto representative Mr Bay Toh through an engaging, step-by-step tour, the students gain an exclusive glimpse into how a global organisation brings together business strategy, food science, digital innovation and sustainable manufacturing to create products and experiences that resonate with consumers worldwide.

The visit provides students with firsthand exposure to corporate excellence, demonstrating how Ajinomoto integrates digital marketing and brand storytelling with smart factory automation, sustainable operations and strategic business management.

The tour begins at the Visitor Gallery, where students explore historical artefacts and notebooks belonging to Japanese chemist Kikunae Ikeda, who discovers the fifth basic taste, umami, in 1908, as well as those of co-founder Saburosuke Suzuki II. 

The exhibits offer a fascinating glimpse into how a scientific discovery evolves into a globally recognised household brand.

The experience highlights an important lesson for the students: successful brands are not built overnight. They grow through innovation, strong values, consistent storytelling and the ability to adapt to changing consumer needs.

Mr Bay Toh then leads an insightful briefing on Ajinomoto’s market positioning, supply chain operations and diverse product portfolio. 

Students gain a deeper understanding of how the company manages consumer retail seasonings, including Seri-Aji®, alongside industrial business-to-business (B2B) applications across regional and international markets.

The students then put theory into practice through an interactive taste test. By sampling different chicken broth variations, they experience firsthand how glutamate enhances flavour, depth and mouthfeel, while also learning about its role in supporting salt-reduction initiatives.

The activity transforms a familiar concept from food science into a practical learning experience, allowing students to understand how scientific principles can influence product development, consumer preferences and marketing strategies.

From the specialised viewing corridor, the students observe high-speed automated packaging lines and stringent quality-control procedures in operation. The experience provides valuable insights into real-world operations management, HALAL compliance, HACCP and FSSC 22000 quality systems.

Where Technology Meets Sustainability

The learning experience continues with a live cooking demonstration centred on healthy nutrition. The session showcases practical low-sodium cooking techniques using Ajinomoto seasonings and reinforces the company’s ‘Eat Well, Live Well’ philosophy.

Students also witness how Industry 4.0 technologies are transforming modern manufacturing. From advanced robotics and IoT-driven process automation to real-time data tracking, the facility demonstrates how technology can enhance production efficiency while reducing material waste and human error.

A key highlight is the facility’s sustainability initiatives. Through extensive rooftop solar energy systems, digitalisation and advanced industrial wastewater recycling processes, the Bandar Enstek facility earns Green Building Index (GBI) Silver certification in Malaysia.

The tour also demonstrates how Ajinomoto operationalises its Ajinomoto Group Creating Shared Value (ASV) approach, which seeks to balance business growth with positive social impact. 

The facility’s environmental initiatives contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), including SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, and SDG 13: Climate Action.

For the students, the experience provides a powerful example of how sustainable infrastructure, technology and smart manufacturing can work together in a modern corporate environment.

The visit concludes with an energetic Q&A and interactive quiz session, where students put their newly acquired knowledge of food science, sustainability and corporate strategy to the test. The most enthusiastic participants also walk away with exclusive Ajinomoto corporate gift bags.

For the students, the experience offers more than a tour of a manufacturing facility —it provides a valuable opportunity to see how the concepts they study in the classroom are applied in a real-world business environment.

Chiew Hee Lum, a Digital Marketing student, says seeing how Ajinomoto translates complex food science into clear and engaging consumer marketing is particularly eye-opening.

 “Observing their brand storytelling in the gallery and their interactive product demonstrations gives me fresh ideas on how digital marketers can turn technical innovation into compelling, human-centred campaigns,” she says.

Citra Ayu Pratiwi, a Digital Marketing postgraduate student, finds Ajinomoto’s omnichannel strategy and brand positioning particularly fascinating.

“The tour demonstrates how a legacy company maintains market leadership by combining digital initiatives, sustainable practices and direct consumer engagement through experiential site visits,” she says.

For Muhammad Masvood Abdullah, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Business Analytics student, witnessing automated production and smart packaging lines alongside solar-powered energy management offers valuable insights into the role of technology in modern business.

“Seeing data-driven efficiency and industrial automation in real time is incredible. It clearly shows how modern businesses leverage technology and analytics to streamline operations while upholding green building standards,” he says.

Zikrunnahar, an International Business Communication student, highlights the importance of effective communication in a global organisation.

“The experience highlights how crucial cross-cultural communication and unified corporate messaging are for a global organisation like Ajinomoto. 

“Learning how they communicate sustainability, heritage and health benefits seamlessly across diverse international markets is an invaluable practical lesson,” she says.

Ms Harjinder Kaur says the experience demonstrates why meaningful learning extends beyond the classroom.

“Learning truly transcends the four walls of a classroom when our students step directly into the heart of industry operations. 

“Seeing our future marketers, managers and business leaders engage so passionately with real-world practices, from global brand legacy to corporate sustainability, reaffirms our commitment at APU to nurture industry-ready talent who can bridge academic theory with impactful practice,” she says.

The SoMM extends its appreciation to the team at Ajinomoto (Malaysia) Berhad. for its warm hospitality and excellent organisation throughout the visit.

Special recognition goes to Mr Bay Toh for his engaging guidance, valuable industry insights and generous knowledge sharing. His ability to make complex industrial concepts accessible and relevant contributes significantly to the students’ learning experience.

The visit to Ajinomoto Malaysia serves as a valuable experiential learning journey for SoMM’s postgraduate and undergraduate students. 

By connecting classroom knowledge in digital marketing, international business communication, business management, international business management and human resource management with real-world corporate practices, the experience strengthens students’ understanding of how businesses operate, innovate and create sustainable value.

More importantly, the visit highlights APU’s commitment to developing industry-ready graduates equipped with the global perspective, practical knowledge and multidisciplinary skills needed to thrive in today’s rapidly evolving business landscape.