Developing Inclusive Education, FES Initiates Collaboration With University New South Wales (UNSW) Australia

Located at the Menara Karya Building, Jakarta, 27 November 2023, the Dean of the Faculty of Educational Science (FES), Prof. Dr. Afdal, M. Pd., Kons. meet with Professor Colin B Grant, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Global University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney, Australia, to discuss the initiation of collaboration and its implementation in various areas of the tri-dharma of higher education, especially inclusive education. Also accompanying the Dean of FES was Elsa Efrina, M. Pd. (Head of the Special Education Department) and Grahita Kusumastuti, M. Pd. (Special Education Department Lecturer).

In this meeting, various collaborative activities that could be carried out between UNP and UNSW were discussed, including (1) Student Mobility (student exchange) in collaboration with NCP Funding (The New Colombo Plan), (2) Joint Community to increase awareness of disability awareness and equity in the university environment and (3) Collaboration on International Global Development (IDG) in joint research.

As one of the producers of inclusive education teachers in Indonesia, the FES UNP’s Special Education Department is very enthusiastic about the implementation of this collaboration and hopes to strengthen the contribution of the Special Education Department in making UNP an internationally reputable campus, added Elsa, a Doctoral Candidate in Special Education.

When contacted by UNP’s Public Relations, the Dean of FES UNP explained that initiating collaboration with UNSW was essential, considering that UNSW is ranked 19th in the world and is one of the campuses with the best disability services, including the level of awareness and equality regarding inclusivity. “We also want the UNSW knowledge and experience to be implemented at UNP, especially in inclusive education, especially as UNP has a special education department,” continued the Dean.

Furthermore, the activity initiated by the Special Education Department was carried out after quite intensive discussions between Dr. Nurhastuti, Antoni Tsaputra, PhD., Elsa Efrina, M. Pd. and Grahita Kusumastuti, M. Pd. with Ms Nur Fatmah Syarbini, UNSW Country Director in Indonesia for the last few months. This discussion is also essential, considering that the government’s concern for inclusive education and scientific developments is increasing. 

It has been one semester for UNSW lecturer Dr. Gianfranco Giuntoli, a guest lecturer at the Special Education Department, added Elsa.