AIL News-Surabaya, November 1, 2024 – Airlangga University (UNAIR) reaffirmed its commitment to supporting inclusive education through the 2024 Airlangga Inclusive Learning Volunteer Training. The event, which took place from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Western Indonesian Time, was attended by enthusiastic participants eager to learn about mentoring ethics and inclusivity in higher education.

Have you ever wondered how much opportunity students with disabilities have to succeed in higher education? The reality is that many still face significant challenges, from accessibility issues to social stigma. But that doesn’t mean these problems can’t be solved. Now is the time for all of us to take an active role in creating truly inclusive education.

Tokyo, June 10-12, 2023 — In a heartwarming showcase of commitment to inclusive education, Universitas Airlangga stole the spotlight at the 2023 ASAIHL Conference in Tokyo. The university's innovative approach to assisting students with disabilities was presented by a team led by Fitri Mutia, the Coordinator of Airlangga Inclusive Learning Unit.

Today, we live alongside rapid technological advances and social changes. The advent of technology has made it easier to disseminate information and provide learning media. One form of learning media is through watching or performing arts. In the context of inclusive education, utilizing technology with performing arts media is one way to spread a deeper understanding of what inclusion is. 

At yesterday's Airlangga Inclusive Learning (AIL) volunteer training, both volunteers and BEM representatives were invited to reflect on the meaning of inclusivity. In terms of language, inclusion comes from the English word “include,” which means to involve. From this meaning, it can be interpreted that inclusivity truly involves everyone from various groups without leaving anyone out. Being inclusive does not mean glorifying certain groups, such as marginalized groups, and then leaving non-marginalized groups behind.

Then who are these marginalized people?

Nely Suwidyanti, or Nely as she is commonly known, is a student with cerebral palsy. Despite her disability, this has not hindered her determination to pursue the highest level of education possible and successfully complete her studies until graduation. As an alumna of the Bachelor of Statistics program at the Faculty of Science and Technology and an alumna of the Master of Public Policy program at Airlangga University, she has successfully completed her master's degree at Airlangga University (February 2022–August 2023).