SEGi University & Colleges is on a mission to drive the higher education institution group towards the next normal.
‘Diversification’ is one of its core pillars in achieving 46 years of excellence. Since its establishment in 1977, SEGi has rolled out numerous initiatives to promote diversification across its campuses from continuing to expand its portfolio of academic programmes in both physical and online formats to its diverse student population of more than 15,000 from about 85 nations.
‘Diversification’ is not just about academic delivery or increasing student numbers, it is also about creating an inclusive and equitable learning environment as showcased during the International Women’s Day celebration recently.
“8 March is a date recognised around the globe as International Women’s Day, first celebrated by the United Nations (UN) in 1975, dedicated to commemorating their immense contributions to society, both historically and presently,” commented SEGi University & Colleges’ managing director Stella Lau.
“It is also an opportunity to reaffirm SEGi’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations (UN) in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and to ensure that come 2030 everyone is able to enjoy peace and prosperity.
In this regard, SEGi has taken its role as an educational signatory to SDGs very seriously with the International Women’s Day celebration – falling under SDG No.5: Gender Equality – being one of them.
Themed #DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality, this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD2023) aims to promote gender equality in the digital world.
Powering women
Despite making up half of the world’s population, almost 40% of women lack internet access. The participation of women in the virtual world becomes more crucial given that 75% of jobs will be related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics by 2050.
“It is essential to educate people about gender equality and the easy actions they can take to show their support; for instance, giving encouragement to women in their daily lives, speaking out against gender discrimination, championing women-focused groups, and partaking in digital campaigns,” opined Lau.
“While a lot remains to be done for women across the globe, we should realise there are many successful women among us. We are proud to host some of them at our event today.”
To mark the eventful day, SEGi’s Faculty of Business, Accounting and Law (FOBAL) brought together 22 inspiring women who shared the trials and tribulations of achieving success in their respective industries.
Other distinguished guests included three speakers imparting their expertise, namely, Datuk Dr Florance Manoranjitham Sinniah (founder and president of Pertubuhan Kebajikan Sneham Malaysia), Dr Noor Haliza Yussoff (senior consultant in Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Medicine), and Datuk Dr Alice Prethima Michael (founder & managing medical aesthetic physician at Ageless Medi Spa).
Forum attendees also had the opportunity to experiment with a ‘labour pain stimulator’ which mimics the discomfort of childbirth. Lim Boon Jun, a student pursuing a diploma in business administration, expressed his gratitude to his mother by saying that “childbirth is no simple effort, I feel greater respect to all the supermom”.
Another highlight of SEGi’s IWD2023 celebration is the “Walk in Her Shoes” Challenge led by Jaclyn Wong from the SEGi University & Colleges’ group marketing & globalisation department.
The objective is to encourage male staff and students to swap their regular footwear for a pair of heels, share their experience of what it’s like to be a lady for a day, and subsequently demonstrate support for women and celebrate diversity – all while having a great time and making memories that will last a lifetime.
Meanwhile, students at SEGi College Subang Jaya received a special visit from ‘iron lady’ Zalina Sungip who addressed the topic “My Well-Built Journey”.
A general manager of Petroleum Industry Malaysia Mutual Aid Group (PIMMAG), Zalina had many achievements under her belt, including being the first female pilot to fly the Bombardier 415MP amphibious aircraft during the International Air and Maritime Exhibition (LIMA) 2009.
The IWD2023 celebration at the college also featured a variety of exciting booths, games, and giveaways. For more information, kindly visit www.segi.edu.my