[Unpad Media Channel] Universitas Padjadjaran hosted a hybrid seminar and workshop titled “Inclusivity and Accessibility Audit at Unpad” on Monday, July 21st, 2025, at Bale Sawala, Unpad Rectorate Building, Jatinangor. The event reaffirmed the university’s commitment to fostering an inclusive and accessible educational environment for all members of its academic community.
“Since last year, Unpad has reaffirmed its commitment to the value of inclusivity. This inclusivity is not limited to persons with disabilities but extends to all groups in society who seek to contribute to and benefit from access to education at Unpad,” said Rector Prof. Arief S. Kartasasmita in his opening remarks.
This year, Unpad saw a significant increase in participation from students with disabilities, with approximately 30 percent of applicants identifying as such. In response, the university is committed to further enhancing facilities and support systems to ensure that all students can pursue higher education without barriers.
“Let us reflect on whether we have been fair in providing adequate support, so that all Unpad students, whether with or without disabilities, can study here equitably,” added the Rector.
The event was also attended by Unpad Vice Rector for Academic and Student Affairs Prof. Zahrotur Rusyda Hinduan, several faculty deans, Vice Deans for Resources and Organization, as well as Managers of Resources, Planning, and Information from across Unpad.
The seminar featured two keynote speakers. Zulhamka Julianto Kadir, Director of the Bandung Independent Living Center (BILiC), delivered a talk titled “Inclusive Campus and Disability Perspectives,” highlighting the importance of fostering a welcoming campus for persons with disabilities. Ratna Suryana, advisor to the Indonesian Women with Disabilities Association, presented a session titled “Access for Persons with Disabilities in a Fellow ASEAN Country: Lessons from Malaysia,” which discussed best practices and accessibility challenges in Malaysia as a reference point for improving inclusivity in Indonesia, especially at Unpad.
The event also featured a sharing session titled “Hopes from the Disability Community for an Inclusive Unpad,” presented by representatives of diverse disability backgrounds. Universitas Brawijaya’s Disability Service Unit (ULD) also shared their experiences in a session on strategic steps and challenges in developing disability services at their institution.
Additionally, an on-site accessibility assessment of Unpad Jatinangor Campus was conducted by the Integrated Service Unit (ULT), BILiC, Unpad’s facilities team, and faculty managers. The results of the audit and initial recommendations were presented as the first step toward improving campus infrastructure and accessibility.
Through this seminar and workshop, Unpad not only strengthened its commitment to inclusivity but also fostered cross-sector dialogue and collaboration to create a truly equitable and accessible campus environment for all. The outcomes of this event are expected to serve as a foundation for future policy development and concrete actions in realizing Unpad as a fully inclusive university for all members of its academic community.
