UIN Ar-Raniry and Pijar Foundation Strengthen Access to Inclusive Higher Education for Students with Disabilities

Banda Aceh, 2 November 2026 – Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Ar-Raniry Banda Aceh and Pijar Foundation have reaffirmed their commitment to expanding access to inclusive higher education for students with disabilities. This commitment was formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and a Cooperation Agreement on 2 November 2026.

The MoU was signed by the Rector of UIN Ar-Raniry, Prof. Dr. Mujiburrahman, M.Ag., and the Executive Director of Pijar Foundation, Cazadira Fediva Tamzil. The partnership covers education, research, community service, and human resource development.

On the same occasion, both parties also signed a Cooperation Agreement to implement the KRISAN Fellowship 2026 Action Plan. KRISAN Fellowship is an initiative led by Pijar Foundation in collaboration with The Nippon Foundation, with the involvement of the Asia Human Development Organisation (AHDC). The program aims to strengthen inclusive higher education in Indonesia through international learning exchanges, the sharing of best practices, and institutional capacity building.

Through KRISAN Fellowship 2026, participating universities have the opportunity to learn about inclusive education practices in Japan and translate these insights into actionable plans tailored to their respective institutions. UIN Ar-Raniry is among the universities participating in the program.

The Rector of UIN Ar-Raniry, Prof. Mujiburrahman, emphasized that higher education institutions have a responsibility to provide equal educational opportunities for everyone, including persons with disabilities. He noted that inclusive education must be reflected in an open academic environment, supportive policies, and facilities accessible to all students.

"UIN Ar-Raniry pays close attention to the needs of children and persons with disabilities. In recent years, we have welcomed students with various disabilities, including Deaf students, students with visual impairments, and students with physical disabilities," said Mujiburrahman.

He explained that building an inclusive campus goes beyond admitting students with disabilities. It also requires providing facilities and services that accommodate their needs.

Several accessibility facilities are already available on campus, including tactile guiding paths for students with visual impairments, wheelchair-accessible pathways, and restrooms designed to accommodate persons with disabilities.

Nevertheless, Mujiburrahman acknowledged that further improvements are needed, particularly in ensuring accessibility to classrooms on upper floors. Improving accessible infrastructure and facilities will therefore remain a priority for UIN Ar-Raniry.

Beyond physical infrastructure, UIN Ar-Raniry is also strengthening child protection and gender equality policies through its Center for Gender and Child Studies (PSGA), as part of its broader efforts to foster a more inclusive academic environment.

Ellya Rizki Handayani, Program Manager of KRISAN Fellowship, expressed hope that the partnership would lay the foundation for sustainable improvements in higher education, particularly in ensuring that students with disabilities can learn and participate on an equal basis.

"We hope this collaboration marks the beginning of a long-term commitment to building a more inclusive higher education environment. Inclusivity is not an end goal achieved simply by providing accessible facilities or establishing policies. Rather, it is a value that must be embedded in everyday campus life, from teaching and learning processes to student services and opportunities for every student to participate and develop their potential equally," said Ellya.

As part of the follow-up to KRISAN Fellowship 2026, UIN Ar-Raniry has developed an action plan focused on strengthening institutional capacity, improving policies, and enhancing services for students with disabilities.

To support the implementation of this action plan, Pijar Foundation will provide assistance through ongoing guidance, mentoring, coordination, monitoring, and evaluation to ensure that the program is carried out in line with the agreed objectives.

The Cooperation Agreement was signed by UIN Ar-Raniry's Vice Rector III for Student Affairs and Cooperation, Reza Idria, Ph.D., and Pijar Foundation's Executive Director, Cazadira Fediva Tamzil.

Implementation of the action plan will be coordinated by a UIN Ar-Raniry team comprising Dr. Nashriyah, M.A., and Harri Santoso, M.Ed. The team will be responsible for coordinating activities, managing financial support, and submitting progress reports on program implementation.

Through this collaboration, UIN Ar-Raniry and Pijar Foundation aim to ensure that efforts to strengthen inclusive higher education go beyond improvements in infrastructure and policies. The partnership seeks to bring meaningful changes to the learning experiences of students with disabilities, ensuring that every student has an equal opportunity to develop their full potential.