6 October 2022

AUN-DPPnet Launching TILE Project’s New Guidebook for Fostering Disability-Friendly Learning Environment

By
AUN Writer Team

By Boonyanuch Jaroenittikoon, AUN Programme Officer

On the occasion of the 13th ASEAN University Network Rectors’ Meeting, AUN-Disability and Public Policy Network (AUN-DPPnet) launched a new book— The Policy, Legal and Institutional Framework of Inclusive Higher Education in ASEAN Countries. The book has great potential to be implemented as a guideline for universities in ASEAN to prepare their learning environment to receive students with disabilities, namely, physical, visual, and hearing disabilities. Moreover, this guidebook emphasises the importance of centralised government involvement; effective teaching and learning engagement before, during, and after the classroom; and the use of assistive technology to create a physical environment that complies with the three groups of disabilities.

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The Policy, Legal and Institutional Framework of Inclusive Higher Education in ASEAN Countries was authored with a specialty to be most suitable for the ASEAN context. The insights of the book are contributed by expert researchers, who are considered to be the foundation to help to develop this detailed framework. 

This guidebook is a major outcome of the TILE Project (Toward Inclusive Learning Environment), which is hosted by five universities: the University of Malaysia, Mahidol University, Airlangga University, Vietnam Japan University, and Ateneo De Manila University. TILE Project was created with the objective of promoting a disability-friendly learning environment. It covers four aspects of an inclusive ecosystem campus: teaching and learning needs, legislations and policies, campus experiences, and physical accessibility.

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The launching event began with representatives from the AUN-DPPnet stating the background of the Policy, Legal and Institutional Framework of Inclusive Higher Education in ASEAN Countries; a brief work summary of AUN-DPPnet in the past years; testimony of strong network and linkages between AUN member universities and the thematic network. Afterward, Dr. Choltis Dhirathiti, the AUN Executive Director, and Miss Nitcharee Peneakchanasak, a student representative from AUN-DPPnet alongside participants in this significant event were invited to be part in photographs to mark this vital step of AUN-DPPnet.

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