Pijar Foundation Strengthens Disability Service Units with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology to Advance Inclusive Campuses

The Inclusive Higher Education Initiative, supported by The Nippon Foundation, is launched to strengthen effective, sustainable, and integrated Disability Service Units across Indonesian universities.

Jakarta, July 1, 2026 — As efforts to expand access to higher education for persons with disabilities continue to grow, the greatest challenge for inclusive campuses is not merely admitting students with disabilities, but ensuring they receive meaningful support throughout their academic journey.

According to the official Inclusive Higher Education (PT Inklusif) portal of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek), every higher education institution is required to establish a Disability Service Unit (Unit Layanan Disabilitas/ULD). However, available data indicate that only 155 universities have established ULDs out of approximately 4,000 higher education institutions across Indonesia.

In response to this gap, Pijar Foundation and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen the sustainability and effectiveness of Disability Service Units in Indonesian universities. The signing took place during the event "Collaborating for Inclusive Education in Indonesia: From Pilot Initiatives to Sustainable Impact," held at the Jakarta Future Community Space (JFCS).

In a video address, Prof. Brian Yuliarto, S.T., M.Eng., Ph.D., Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, emphasized that inclusion is fundamental to Indonesia's long-term national vision.

"Inclusion does not end with providing access to higher education; it means ensuring that every student receives the support they need to complete their education and fully develop their potential," said Prof. Brian Yuliarto. "As we move toward Golden Indonesia 2045, we need outstanding human capital without leaving anyone behind. Every Indonesian has the potential to contribute to our nation's progress, and it is our shared responsibility to ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive."

In line with this commitment, Pijar Foundation, with strategic support from The Nippon Foundation, launched the KRISAN Fellowship, an institutional capacity-building program designed for universities that have already established Disability Service Units as well as those preparing to create one. The fellowship equips institutions with the knowledge, networks, and confidence needed to strengthen services for students with disabilities. The name KRISAN is inspired by the chrysanthemum flower, which grows in both Indonesia and Japan, symbolizing growth, resilience, and quiet strength.

"For students with disabilities, entering higher education often comes with additional challenges. Inclusive higher education must therefore go beyond opening the doors to admission—it must provide support before, during, and after students' academic journey. This is where Disability Service Units play a critical role, not merely as administrative offices, but as drivers of inclusion, ensuring that it becomes both an institutional policy and a lived culture across campus. True inclusion is only possible when it embraces the full diversity of disabilities, recognizing the different needs and learning experiences of every student," said Cazadira Fediva Tamzil, Executive Director of Pijar Foundation.

The event continued with a high-level panel discussion titled "From Pilot Initiatives to Sustainable Impact: Building Strong, Effective, and Sustainable Disability Service Units in Indonesian Higher Education." The panel featured Dewi Wulandari, Coordinator of the National Disability Service Unit Support Program at the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology; Asep Jahidin, Coordinator of the Disability Service Center at Sunan Kalijaga State Islamic University Yogyakarta; and Rachmita Maun Harahap, Commissioner of the National Commission on Disabilities.

From the perspective of the disability community, strong Disability Service Units are essential to ensuring that the rights of students with disabilities are translated from policy into practice.

"Students with disabilities do not need sympathy—they need fair systems, equal access, and campus environments that understand the diversity of their needs," said Rachmita Maun Harahap, Commissioner of the National Commission on Disabilities, during the panel discussion. "Disability Service Units must serve as bridges that ensure these rights are fulfilled. When universities have strong disability support services, students with disabilities are able to participate more fully in both academic and campus life."

Pijar Foundation believes that inclusive higher education requires collaboration among government institutions, universities, civil society organizations, disability communities, and development partners. Through the Inclusive Higher Education Initiative, this collaboration carries a shared message: students with disabilities have the same rights, potential, and opportunities to succeed, and higher education systems must be prepared to support them equitably and sustainably.