Abstract
Inclusivity in higher education within the Asia Pacific and ASEAN regions remains pivotal to securing equitable societal development. Addressing ongoing structural exclusions, the ASEAN University Network – Disability and Public Policy Network (AUN-DPPnet) is developing the ASEAN Inclusive Campus Guideline. This regional framework is strategically grounded in the UM-InOKU blueprint—an inclusive campus guideline pioneered by Universiti Malaya. The guideline operates across four critical pillars, namely Policy and Governance, Teaching and Learning, Campus Accessibility and Support Services. These pillars provide a topical and structured framework for universities to systematically implement inclusive practices. This presentation will showcase the ongoing initiatives by the Universiti Malaya in collaborating with neighbouring countries to materialise the four pillars. One innovative initiative was to spearhead the mobility programmes involving Malaysian students with disabilities by offering outbound opportunities to Indonesia in May and Thailand in August and September, to promote cross country partnership, cross-border learning, and multi-cultural exchange. These initiatives accelerate the materialization of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across the Asia Pacific. It drives SDG 4 (Quality Education) by securing equal tertiary access, SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by empowering persons with disabilities, and SDG Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by bridging the gap between cross-country collaboration.
Learning objectives
- To implement policies governing campus inclusivity to ensure equal opportunities for students with disabilities
- To establish accessible campus environment by removing barriers through universal design
- To provide meaningful and holistic approach that support students with disabilities both inside the classroom and within the broader community
- To learn about international partnership that allows institutions to exchange global best practices in creating inclusivity for students with disabilities at campus
Target audience
University management, policymakers, academic staff, support staff, disability service personnels, accessibility experts, student support personnels, curriculum designers, researchers, students with disabilities, non-governmental organisations, public and private organisations and individuals interested in inclusivity.