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KENINGAU: Lovelina Lim, a fourth-year Culinary Arts student at Keningau Vocational College (KVC), has published an academic research paper based on her final-year project in a national academic journal titled e-Bicara Ilmiah, published by Raub Community College on 15 December 2025.

A total of 29 articles in Malay and English, covering various fields from several educational institutions in the country, were compiled in this academic journal, which marks the first edition published by the community college.

The student’s supervisors, Erma Gagah and Helen Tuah, who teach Culinary Arts, were co-authors of the study entitled “Sago flour as an alternative in creating gluten-free traditional fritters.” Lovelina was the main author of the article, which was written in English.

The student decided to develop a snack with spicy fillings using sago as the main ingredient to replace wheat flour, as it is a healthier option since it is high in starch and gluten-free.

In addition, Malaysia is one of the world’s largest producers of sago but its use in the food industry remains limited.

The student successfully conducted a survey involving 173 respondents who completed a five-point Likert scale questionnaire after sampling the product.

She analysed the data using the One-Way ANOVA statistical test to identify the consistency of respondents’ evaluations of the product, and Pearson Correlation to determine the relationship between sensory evaluation criteria (taste, aroma, texture, and appearance) and respondents’ overall satisfaction with the food product.

The findings revealed a positive acceptance of the product among respondents, as evaluations across all criteria were consistent, and there was a positive relationship between sensory evaluation criteria and overall respondent satisfaction, particularly for the aroma criterion.

The college director, Lumang Anak Lang, praised the student’s efforts and expressed appreciation to the supervising teachers.

He stating that the implementation, writing, and publication of research based on students’ work such as final-year projects represent a significant achievement that reflects the holistic development of vocational college diploma graduates and helps open more opportunities for students in vocational fields.