Cardiff University partnership delivers toolkit to advance disability inclusion in Indonesian higher education
2 July 2026
Cardiff University has concluded a major international collaboration aimed at strengthening disability inclusion in Indonesian higher education, culminating in a practical, openly accessible toolkit.
The SAHABAT-ID (Empowering Disability Inclusion in Higher Education) project brought together Cardiff University, Universitas Katolik Widya Mandala Surabaya (UKWMS), and Edinburgh Napier University. Funded by the British Council’s Going Global Partnerships programme, the initiative explored the lived experiences of disabled students and staff, examining barriers and opportunities at the intersection of gender, culture, and education.
Led by Dr Zoe Lee (Cardiff Business School) and Dr Lanny Hartanti (Vice Rector, UKWMS), the research team also included Professor Debbie Foster (Cardiff Business School) and Dr Catherine Jones and Dr Georgina Powell (Wales Autism Research Centre) as well as Professor Nathalia Tjandra (Edinburgh Napier University).
The collaboration was rooted in reciprocal knowledge exchange. In October 2025, colleagues from UKWMS visited Cardiff to share early findings and engage with Cardiff’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) teams, highlighting institutional approaches to inclusive practice.
In February 2026, Cardiff and Edinburgh Napier researchers delivered two workshops in Surabaya, reaching 204 participants from UKWMS and neighbouring universities. Feedback demonstrated strong impact: 95% of university leaders committed to actively promoting disability inclusion, while students expressed enthusiasm for supporting disability services.
The project’s key output is the SAHABAT-ID Toolkit: From Barriers to Belonging, co-produced with disabled students, staff, and allies. Drawing on interviews, focus groups, and reflective work, the toolkit provides a structured framework across four areas: institutional readiness, learning and teaching, assessment and adjustments, and sense of belonging. Grounded in Cardiff’s vision of cynefin, a place where people truly belong, it places lived experience at its core.
This project has shown that meaningful inclusion requires listening to those with lived experience. We hope this toolkit supports universities to move beyond compliance towards genuine belonging, while strengthening links between Cardiff and Indonesia.
The project was further shaped by contributions from organisations including Disability Arts Cymru, Pastoral Difabel Keuskupan, and Autism Awareness Indonesia.
Reflecting Cardiff University’s commitment to equitable global partnerships, SAHABAT-ID demonstrates how co-created approaches can drive lasting change in higher education systems worldwide.
The toolkit is freely available for university leaders, staff, students, and professional services teams seeking to build more inclusive institutions.
My visit to Cardiff University was both professionally enriching and personally inspiring. I had the opportunity to learn from dedicated colleagues, engage with disability advocates, and witness how disability inclusion can be embedded within the university culture and practice. What impressed me most was the genuine commitment of our partners to ensuring that every individual has the opportunity to thrive. This experience has strengthened my motivation to continue advancing disability inclusion at UKWMS.
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