SAGES Students Showcase Culinary Talent at UCTC Securing Both First and Second Place

Winning teams from The Sages International celebrate their achievements at the UCT Competition, proudly holding trophies and certificates.

University students are known not only for their intellectual capabilities but also for the need to develop skills that support independence and creativity. One essential skill that is often overlooked yet highly relevant in everyday life is cooking. This ability goes beyond simply preparing food—it also involves creativity, precision, time management, teamwork, and innovation in producing delicious and nutritious dishes. Through activities like cooking competitions, students can meaningfully develop these potentials. Such competitions also serve as an effective platform to nurture entrepreneurial spirit, especially in the rapidly growing and promising culinary field. Amid economic challenges and the modern lifestyle, cooking skills reflect an important life skill that every individual, including students, should possess.

Recognizing the importance of these skills, many universities—especially those with culinary programs—are now creating opportunities for young people to express their creativity through competitions. One such event recently held was the Universitas Ciputra Tourism Competition (UCTC), an annual baking and pastry competition organized by Universitas Ciputra Surabaya. In this competition, participants were divided into groups of three. Each team was challenged to create three main dishes: fondant dessert, plated dessert, and cake decoration. The Sages International sent two teams to participate—one from the Pandaan campus and another from the Surabaya campus. The results were truly impressive:

• First place was won by a team of sixth-semester students

• Second place was secured by a team of second-semester students

They competed against participants from various other universities that also specialize in the culinary arts. This year's competition theme was "Tourism", with each team highlighting a destination in Indonesia. The first-place team chose Lovina Beach – Bali as their theme, incorporating a blue-dominated fondant, while the second-place team chose Lombok. The competition was judged based on artistic decoration and cake taste. Participants underwent two weeks of intensive preparation before the competition, under the direct guidance of a baking and pastry chef. According to Sita, the student affairs coordinator and competition mentor, the results were highly satisfying for The SAGES International.

“We are extremely proud of this achievement. We hope that in the future, our students will continue to excel and bring pride to our alma mater,” said Sita.

This accomplishment proves that SAGES students excel not only in academics but also in being skillful, creative, and independent—clearly reflecting the profile of the ideal modern-day student.