(This article was first published on the SEGi University & Colleges Website on 29th March 2025.)

SEGi’s distinguished academic, Yii Kah Hoe, was recently featured among Southeast Asia’s leading music scholars at the PULSE Journal Seminar, held at PGVIM, Bangkok, from 9–11 March 2025. The seminar, themed “Resonating Across Borders: Building Bridges through Music in Southeast Asia”, gathered influential names such as Prof. Dr. Ramon P. Santos, Prof. Dr. Verne De la Pena, and Maestro Anant Narkkong to engage in deep discourse on cultural preservation and cross-cultural collaboration through music.

As a respected contemporary composer and cultural researcher, Yii’s presence at this elite forum amplifies SEGi College Subang Jaya’s commitment to regional leadership in arts, culture, and heritage studies. Discussions during the event spanned across heritage preservation, the evolution of Southeast Asian music, and strategies to deepen intercultural connectivity — resonating strongly with UNESCO’s calls for cultural diversity as a pillar for sustainable development.

This intellectual exchange is more than just a scholarly platform; it underscores the vital role of music in connecting communities, preserving indigenous knowledge, and advancing inclusive societies. The seminar’s outcome — a special thematic publication by PULSE Journal — will further spotlight SEGi’s academic presence in this influential space. Learn more about the journal at PULSE Journal.

With Southeast Asia’s youth population surpassing 213 million, initiatives like this serve as catalysts to shape the region’s creative and cultural future. Participation in high-level dialogues supports Malaysia’s vision of empowering the creative economy, while reinforcing SEGi’s values of innovation, leadership, and global citizenship.

This engagement also aligns with global calls to preserve intangible cultural heritage, as highlighted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which recognises music as a powerful driver for social cohesion and sustainable growth.

This event is organised in support of the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG):

SDG 4: Quality Education

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals