Tuesday 28 October 2025, 11:00-12:30
This webinar is hosted by the Special Interest Group ‘Education and International Development’ at the Nottingham Institute of Education, Nottingham Trent University.
This webinar explores innovative responses to the challenges of inclusive education in resource-limited and diverse contexts. Drawing on experiences from Indonesia and Malaysia, the session will highlight how educators and communities are addressing barriers through creative, locally driven solutions—from inclusive agricultural initiatives to community-based teacher training. Participants will gain insights into how inclusive education can be adapted to meet the needs of learners with disabilities across different cultural and economic landscapes.
Speakers:
Dr Nur Azizah, Associate Professor, Special Education Department, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (Indonesia)
Dr Azizah will speak on “Challenges and Innovations in Special and Inclusive Education: The Indonesian Experience”, drawing on over 20 years of academic and practical experience in special education, inclusive education, and transition support for students with disabilities.
Indonesia, with its vast geographic and socio-economic diversity, faces unique challenges in meeting the educational rights of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). This presentation explores the current landscape of special and inclusive education in Indonesia, highlighting the dual-track approach of special schools and mainstream schools. Despite progressive policies, implementation gaps persist, especially in underserved and rural areas. Challenges include a shortage of trained teachers, limited learning materials, inaccessible infrastructure, and pervasive stigma. These are compounded by systemic issues such as inconsistent policy enforcement and limited data on learners with SEND. Yet, local innovations show promise. Community-driven initiatives, NGO-supported teacher training, and the use of mobile and digital learning tools illustrate the potential for inclusive practices even in constrained contexts. By sharing both the challenges and creative local responses, the session aims to broaden participants’ understanding of how inclusive education can be adapted to different cultural and economic contexts. Indonesia’s experience offers valuable lessons on the importance of flexible policies and community involvement.
Dr Nor Wahiza Abdul Wahab, Head of Department and Associate Professor of the Professional Development and Continuing Education Department, Universiti Putra Malaysia (Malaysia)
Dr Wahiza will speak on “Inclusive Agro as a Pathway for Special Education in Resource-Limited Settings”, drawing on her extensive research in disability studies, inclusive education, and training effectiveness.
This presentation will explore how inclusive agricultural initiatives can serve as practical and empowering educational pathways for learners with disabilities, particularly in contexts with limited resources. Grounded in her work on self-acceptance, inclusion, and virtual training models, Dr Wahiza will offer insights into bridging structural and psychological barriers through innovative, community-based approaches in Malaysia and other low-resource contexts.
Discussant:
Dr Abdishakur Tarah, Senior Lecturer in Education, Nottingham Trent University, will offer reflections on both presentations and guiding the closing discussion.