About Airlangga Inclusive Learning Airlangga University

The Airlangga University Inclusive Education Service Unit (UNAIR LPI Unit), also known as Airlangga Inclusive Learning (AIL), is a Disability Service Unit (ULD) that is structurally under the Directorate of Education at Airlangga University.
Since its establishment in 2016, AIL has been committed to realizing inclusive, fair, and equal higher education for the entire academic community, especially for persons with disabilities or students with special needs (MBK).

The establishment of AIL is based on awareness of various national laws and regulations that guarantee the right to education for persons with disabilities, including:

• The Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia of 1945,

• Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 39 of 1999 on Human Rights,

• Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 8 of 2016 on Persons with Disabilities, dan

• Regulation of the Minister of Research, Technology and Higher Education (Permenristekdikti) Number 46 of 2017 on Special Education and Special Services in Higher Education.

The regulation stipulates that every citizen with special needs has the same right to obtain educational services at all types and levels of education, including at universities..

History of Formation and Development

In 2016, the Directorate of Education at Airlangga University formed an initial team to conduct comparative studies and reviews of MBK management at various universities in Indonesia.
This step was initiated by Prof. Ni Nyoman Tirtaningsih, then Director of Education, with the idea that Airlangga University needed to pay more attention to students with special needs.

The team visited various universities, such as:

• Brawijaya University through the Center for Disability Studies and Services (PSLD),

• University of Indonesia,

• Yogyakarta State University (UNY), dan

• Faculty of Education, Surabaya State University.

From various studies and training sessions in Jakarta and Malang throughout 2017, the team gained an in-depth understanding of university management systems that are friendly to students with special needs.

The Development of Inclusive Education Services

Entering 2018, under the leadership of Dr. Nono Hery Yoenanto, S.Psi., M.Pd., Psychologist, AIL began to make comprehensive improvements to inclusive education services at Airlangga University.
Various important activities were carried out, including:

• Focus Group Discussion (FGD) about inclusive education services involving various stakeholders;

• Development of support modules for students with special needs and training modules for volunteer mentors;

• Recruitment and training of student volunteers to assist MBK; and

• Socialization of inclusive education to the entire academic community.

This activity is in line with the increasing openness of several faculties—such as FISIP, FIB, and FKM—in accepting students with visual (low vision), hearing, physical, cerebral palsy, and autism disabilities.
One important initiative came from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at Airlangga University, which since 2017 has been collaborating with AUNDPPnet to accept students with special needs through a master's degree scholarship program in public policy.

Facilities and Inclusive Awareness

Over time, AIL continues to promote awareness of inclusion on campus.
Research shows that a supportive social environment, including the role of lecturers, educational staff, and other students, contributes greatly to the success of inclusive education.

Airlangga University is also gradually improving its facilities and infrastructure to support the learning of students with special needs.
Whereas previously campus facilities were not fully accessible to individuals with special needs, now more and more faculties have integrated accessibility principles into their spatial planning, infrastructure, and academic services.

AIL Right Now

Since 2019, under the coordination of Dr. Fitri Mutia A.KS., M.Si., AIL has continued and expanded the program that was initiated previously.
Some important achievements during this period include:

• Compilation of the Inclusive Education Service Guidebook at Airlangga University;

• Strengthening cooperation networks with various units within the university, such as the Airlangga University Library, to support equal access to learning; and

• The development of inclusive services that are not only intended for students with special needs, but also for the entire academic community with special needs at Airlangga University.

Through these ongoing efforts, Airlangga University is determined to become an inclusive, adaptive, and socially just campus, in line with the spirit of “Excellence with Morality.”