Unesa.ac.id. SURABAYA—Surabaya State University (Unesa) via Center of Excellence for Science and Technology, Disability Innovation Center (PUI-DIC) held an International Symposium on Inclusive Education entitled International Symposium in Inclusive Education to Empowering the Innovation in Assistive Technology for The Equality and Accessibilityin the Auditorium, 11th floor, Unesa Rectorate, Campus II Lidah Wetan, Wednesday (15/1/2025).
This activity is a follow-up to the collaborative commitment Unesa with the Southeast Asian Minister of Education Organization Regional Center for Special Educational Needs (SEAMEO SEN), and Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM).
The symposium is intended to discuss and strengthening research, products and innovation in the field of disabilities developed to support the implementation of inclusive education in various countries through SEAMEO SEN. Apart from that, the results of this forum can be used as recommendations to strengthen inclusive education policies.
Strengthening Policy
Baharudin, Director of Community Education and Special Education (PMPK), Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendasmen) appreciated this activity which discussed strategic efforts to ensure that children with disabilities can be independent in a sustainable life.
Baharudin, Director of PMPK Ministry of Home Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia conveyed his commitment and policies regarding inclusive education and his hopes for this activity.
“Hopefully collaboration through this forum make the implementation of inclusive education more massive and improve both the form and quality of its services. "Hopefully from here there will be many important lessons and notes as a basis for our future policy making," hoped the Unesa alumnus.
For him, the implementation of special and inclusive education is not enough for the government to do it alone, but also requires collaboration and involvement of all parties, from central and regional governments to districts and cities, universities, and partners including SEAMEO SEN.
SEAMEO SEN Support
Mohd Azlis Sani bin Md Jalil, Deputy Director of SEAMEO SEN said that SEAMEO SEN is interested in the research and innovation produced by Unesa. His party supports so that the products and innovations produced can be developed and disseminated to the 11 countries that are part of SEAMEO SEN.
"Unesa has innovations, one of which is the Big Book in Indonesian, just need to be translated or adapted to the language of another country where it is needed. "Likewise, the assistive technology produced by Unesa just needs to be adapted," he said.
Demonstration of how the EMO-VR innovation works, a VR technology learning device to support self-regulation of students with autism by a professor of special education management at Unesa and the team.
SEAMEO SEN supports and facilitates the This innovation can also be developed and applied in other countries that need it. "We help and facilitate or bridge the introduction of innovation, including collaboration in the field of disabilities," said Mohd Azlis Sani.
Commitment and Innovation Unesa
Bambang Sigit Widodo, Deputy Chancellor III for Research, Innovation, Ranking, Publication and Science Center Unesa, said that this symposium was a form of strategic collaboration for strengthening educational implementation and innovation inclusion not only in Indonesia through Unesa, or Malaysia through UTeM, but also in other countries.
“This activity is important for innovation Unesa so that it can then be adapted for disability groups. "The hope is that through this activity, innovation can become more widespread and have an impact on universities and other countries," he said.
Meanwhile, the Chair of Unesa's DIC, Budiyanto, explained Unesa's various innovations in the field of disabilities. First, in the communication category, there are a number of innovations produced, such as Signalong Indonesia, the Eesyindo application, Fun Big Book, Sidra Mobile App, Kopi (Smart Community), and DRRE or Disaster Risk Reduction Education.
Signing of cooperation between Unesa and SEAMEO SEN regarding strengthening the implementation of inclusive education.
Second, service category, innovation products produced include Jobdis (an application that bridges the disabled workforce with the world of work and industry), the Gusi (Inclusion Teacher) application, In-Mhare or Inclusive Mobile Health for Teachers, Andi or other tools measure the anxiety of students with disabilities, etc.
Third, in the assistive technology category, Unesa also has many innovations, namely scooters Folding and Electric Wheelchairs, Qur'anic Recitation Virtual Reality, Assistive Electric Vest (AREK), Electric Motorcycles for Disabled People, etc.
Various innovations were presented in the forum That. This inaugural symposium was attended by seven speakers, namely; Baharudin, Director of PMPK, Ministry of Home Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia; Mohd Azlis Sani bin Md Jalil, Deputy Director of SEAMEO SEN; Bambang Sigit Widodo, Deputy Chancellor for Research, Innovation, Ranking, Publication and Science Center Unesa.
Furthermore, Budiyanto, Chair of DIC Unesa; Moh Zoinol Abidin bin Abd. Aziz, Director of UTeM's Smart Manufacturing Technology Center (SMTC); Ahmad Heikhal bin Amir Khamzah from SEAMEO SEN; and Syarifanor bint Hisham from UTeM.[*]
***
Reporter: Fatimah Najmus Shofa (FBS)
Editor: @zam*
Photo: Unesa Public Relations Team
Share It On:
