When Music Reads Emotion: THEi Launches Centre for Music Therapy Research to Deepen Guangdong-Hong Kong Integration and Leverage AI to Fill the Healthcare Talent Gap

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HONG KONG, Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The fast pace of modern life and an aging population drive demand for mental health and non-pharmacological holistic wellness. In alignment with the health development priorities of the national 15th Five-Year Plan and the Healthy China Initiative, the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi) held the launch ceremony for its Centre for Music Therapy Research (CMTR) at the Sky Concert Hall in Shenzhen on 16 September. The launch aims to address the demand for innovative healthcare talent while fostering Guangdong-Hong Kong integration.

The event gathered prominent leaders across government, business, higher education, and technology sectors, including Mr Paul CHONG Kin-lit, BBS, MH, Vice Chairman, THEi's Board of Governors; Professor Alan LAU Kin-tak, President of THEi; Ms LIU Ying, Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Digital Innovation and Technology, THEi and Director of Centre for Music Therapy Research, THEi; Mr YANG Pengda, Education Entrepreneur and Deputy Director of Centre for Music Therapy Research, THEi;  Mr WAN Kun, Deputy Director-General, Development and Reform Bureau of Futian District, Shenzhen Municipality; Ms MA Hui, Director of Tchaikovsky Conservatory (China) International Exchange Centre; Dr CAI Yuejun, Key Laboratory of AI-Enabled Music Therapy, Shanghai Conservatory of Music; Dr PANG Yan, Associate Research Professor, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); Doctoral Supervisor, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS).

The event featured strategic partnership signing ceremonies and a cross-industry networking reception, alongside an immersive "Emotional Healing Show" concert performed by celebrated musicians, including winners of 'Golden Bell Awards' and 'Wenhua Award', as well as former members of the renowned Twelve Girls Band. A key highlight was the live instrumental and choral performance of the iconic pop song Beneath the Lion Rock, which resonated with the Centre's positioning of "Hong Kong's International Connectivity"—marking a major milestone of advancing interdisciplinary mind-body wellness in the GBA.

Empowering Big Health with Applied Sciences: Nurturing "Work-Ready" Professionals in the GBA

Mr Paul CHONG Kin-lit, BBS, MH, Vice Chairman, THEi's Board of Governors, delivered opening remarks, stating: "As an applied discipline bridging art, science, and medicine, music therapy plays a pivotal role in tackling mental stress, broader wellness demands, and specialised healthcare needs. Guided by our education philosophy of 'applied science and immediate application,' THEi drives industry-academia-research integration. By extending the reach of our Centre to Shenzhen, we leverage the GBA's innovative ecosystem and expanding demand to pair global music therapy standards with cutting-edge technology—building a premier hub for scientific research, practical application, and community service."

Professor Alan LAU Kin-tak, President of THEi, emphasised in his keynote that higher education must stay attuned to modern trends and national developments: "Music is undergoing a redefinition where sound, emotion, and AI intersect. As a pioneer in applied science and work-ready education, THEi sees growing demand in the GBA for expertise in non-pharmacological therapies, mental wellness, and the silver economy. By launching the Centre in Shenzhen, we fuse academic research with regional innovation. Through short-term and professional training programmes, we aim to fast-track market-ready, multidisciplinary talent equipped with technological, clinical, and commercial expertise to directly address key social needs.

Top Academic Talent Joins Forces

The newly launched Music Therapy Research Centre is directed by Ms LIU Ying, Visiting Associate Professor in the Department of Digital Innovation and Technology at THEi. A distinguished expert in Chinese traditional music, Ms LIU leads the Centre's core content strategy, backed by international innovation expertise from Dr PANG Yan, Associate Research Professor, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); Doctoral Supervisor, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS) and his team.

As the champion of the Guzheng category at the 9th Chinese Music 'Golden Bell Awards', and the exclusive recipient of the gold, silver, and bronze awards in this category. Ms LIU noted that the Centre maximises synergy between Hong Kong and Shenzhen by pairing "Hong Kong's global perspective with Shenzhen's development speed" to construct a regional cross-disciplinary hub. Guided by the vision of "medical treatment in hospitals, healing in daily life," the Centre uses Five-Tone theory and AI-based EEG technologies to deliver non-clinical wellness solutions. She stressed that with a clear focus on problem-solving over sheer size, the Centre will advance practical training programs, therapeutic products, and industry benchmarks through the integration of arts, science, and commercialisation.

Mr YANG Pengda, Education Entrepreneur and Deputy Director of Centre for Music Therapy Research, THEi, underscored his belief that "investing in education is a high-value commitment, not a cost," – a vision driving his multi-year support for THEi's research centres. Praising THEi's work-ready degree's programmes - which features a 100% internship placement and over 95% graduate employment, he noted that the Institute's programmes are tailored to industry needs. He emphasised that the new Centre is grounded in societal demand, tackling issues like sleep disorders affecting 300 million individuals and elder care for 320 million seniors—effectively leveraging technology and humanity to improve the quality of lives.

The Centre signed strategic MoUs with Key Laboratory of AI-Enabled Music Therapy, Shanghai Conservatory of Music and Tchaikovsky Conservatory (China) International Exchange Centre The partnerships will foster deep collaboration across music arts research, professional talent training, and international exchange, laying a solid artistic foundation for the Centre's ongoing development.

Moving ahead, the Centre will focus its efforts on four core strategic pillars: advancing AI-assisted music therapy research to improve personalised non-pharmacological treatments; exploring traditional Chinese music to unlock its therapeutic emotional benefits; delivering arts-based healing to support seniors and individuals with special needs; and integrating digital music with immersive technology to drive music therapy beyond traditional stages into a smart, holistic era of care.

Following the official launch of the Centre and its upcoming professional training programmes, THEi is set to reinforce its leadership in regional applied science education—accelerating sustainable innovation to support high-quality development across the GBA and nationwide.

About the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Music Technology

The programme places a strong emphasis on cross-cultural exchange, covering three major professional domains: game music design, contemporary music composition, and film scoring. By integrating artificial intelligence and augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) technologies into practical learning, the programme equips students with professional mastery in audio engineering and sound design, enhancing their ability to combine artistic creativity with technological innovation.

About Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi) 

Founded in 2012, the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi) is a member institute of the Vocational Training Council (VTC). THEi offers over 20 professional "Applied Science-Oriented" undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes across seven academic areas: Product and Fashion Designs, Sports and International Events Management, Digital Construction and Building Services, Horticulture, Arboriculture and Landscape Management, Chinese Medicine and Food Science, Hotel Management and Culinary Arts and Technology, and Digital Technology and Innovative Business. The programmes integrate theoretical knowledge with practical applications, and cover industries with growth potential in Hong Kong and the Asia-Pacific region, ensuring that students can apply what they learn effectively.

THEi's undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes are accredited by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications. The curriculum emphasises the practical application of applied science, aligning with the latest developments in business and industry. The undergraduate degree programmes offer 100% work-integrated learning training to support students in building their career paths at an earlier stage.

THEi Chai Wan Campus was awarded the "Leadership in Sustainable Design and Performance Award - Institutional" of the Asia Pacific Leadership in Green Building Awards presented by the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) in 2020.

Media Contact:

Ms Janice Lam 
Tel: (852) 3890 8227 / (852) 9718 0817
Email: janicelam@thei.edu.hk / media@thei.edu.hk

Ms  Rainbow Chiu 
Tel: (852) 3890 8520
Email: rainbowh@thei.edu.hk  / media@thei.edu.hk

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When Music Reads Emotion: THEi Launches Centre for Music Therapy Research to Deepen Guangdong-Hong Kong Integration and Leverage AI to Fill the Healthcare Talent Gap

When Music Reads Emotion: THEi Launches Centre for Music Therapy Research to Deepen Guangdong-Hong Kong Integration and Leverage AI to Fill the Healthcare Talent Gap

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Randstad Malaysia, the globally leading recruitment and HR services agency, has expanded its physical footprint at Bangsar South, Kuala Lumpur, adding Level 5 to its existing office presence at Level 3A. The real estate expansion directly supports a 15% Year-on-Year (YoY) increase in internal headcount, reflecting sustained demand across both permanent recruitment and flexible workforce solutions despite broader regional macroeconomic caution.

The expansion comes on the back of a strong commercial performance in the first half of 2026, where Randstad Malaysia recorded a 25% Year-on-Year (YoY) increase in total revenue. This performance highlights growing demand across the agency's permanent recruitment, flexible contracting, and outsourced payroll desks as Malaysian enterprises rebuild their talent acquisition strategies.

TLDR ; Summary

• Physical footprint expansion: Randstad Malaysia expands its Bangsar South presence by securing Level 5 alongside Level 3A to support a 15% YoY internal headcount growth.
• Commercial growth: The firm posted a 25% YoY revenue growth in 1H 2026 across its permanent, contracting, and payrolling divisions.
• Emerging industry desks: Specialised hiring capabilities were launched for high-growth verticals, including Data Centres, Renewable Energy, Banking, and Education.
• Enterprise AI integration: Full deployment of AI across workflows has accelerated recruitment speed and candidate sourcing.

Link to image: https://drive.google.com/file/d/15E0u1VHXZhOygU1R4Hl7pr-iC1ErlFja/view?usp=sharing

Driving Total Workforce Agility Across Permanent and Flexible Desks

As business leaders across Malaysia navigate changing economic landscapes, organisations are increasingly seeking recruitment partners capable of delivering both long-term leadership stability and short-term operational agility. Randstad Malaysia's 25% revenue surge reflects a market-wide pivot towards total workforce strategies that balance permanent placements with agile, project-based talent.

Activity was particularly pronounced across the agency's specialised corporate recruitment areas, including Construction, Engineering, Supply Chain, Shared Services, and Technology. By offering comprehensive solutions across permanent placements, contract staffing, and managed payroll, Randstad enables employers to scale complex projects without incurring unnecessary fixed overheads.

"While extended decision-making cycles persist in the broader market, business opportunities remain abundant for companies agile enough to seize them. Organisations are moving away from rigid hiring frameworks in favour of total workforce strategies. By strengthening both our permanent recruitment and flexible contracting capabilities, we help clients secure critical executive leadership while maintaining the project-based agility required to scale."

— Fahad Naeem, Country Director at Randstad Malaysia

This dual approach aligns with findings from the Randstad Malaysia 2026 Market Outlook & Salary Guide, which reveals that 17% of local job seekers are actively open to contract roles. The trend is fueled by Gen Z professionals seeking diverse project exposure and senior talent pursuing specialised consultancy assignments.

Operational Scaling: Enterprise AI Sourcing and Strategic Specialisations

To support its physical and commercial growth, Randstad Malaysia focused its 1H 2026 operations on three core pillars: specialisation, internal talent development, and footprint expansion in emerging sectors.

The agency established specialised recruitment desks targeting high-growth industries, including Data Centres, Renewable Energy, Education, and Banking. Simultaneously, Randstad enhanced its service delivery by embedding AI into daily recruitment workflows.

Supporting Malaysia's High-Value Economic Transformation

The office expansion at Bangsar South positions Randstad Malaysia to better serve multinationals and domestic enterprises addressing specialised skill shortages. Data from the Randstad Malaysia Workmonitor 2026 shows that while 95% of local employers express confidence in their business growth trajectories, 52% of employees report taking on extra working hours or side roles to cushion cost-of-living pressures.

By expanding its consulting teams and infrastructure, Randstad Malaysia bridges the gap between corporate growth objectives and candidate career expectations across permanent, contract, and executive search functions.

Partner With Randstad For Data-Driven Talent Strategies

Randstad is the world's leading talent company with the vision to be the world's most equitable and specialized talent company. We are a partner of choice for talent and clients. We have a deep understanding of the labor market to help our clients create the high-quality, diverse and agile workforces they need to succeed.

Headquartered in the Netherlands, Randstad operates in 39 markets and has approximately 38,000 employees. In 2025, we supported nearly 150,000 clients and over 1.7 million talent, generating a revenue of €23.1 billion. Randstad N.V. is listed on the Euronext Amsterdam.

Partner with our recruitment specialists to gain access to more industry trends and secure your next key hire. Learn more by visiting Randstad Malaysia website at https://www.randstad.com.my/.

Liyana Yahaya
liyana.yahaya@randstad.com.my 
+60139577495
Marketing Lead - Randstad Malaysia & Singapore

** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **

Randstad Malaysia scales operations amid strong growth in permanent and flexible talent solutions