6th IDIS

6th International Disability Inclusion Symposium (IDIS) 2025

The 6th International Disability Inclusion Symposium (IDIS) 2025 was successfully held over two days, from 12–13 December 2025, in an online format via Zoom. The symposium was hosted by the University of Tokyo and organised by AUN-DPPnet, bringing together regional and international stakeholders committed to advancing disability inclusion.

This year’s theme, “Moving Beyond Discussion: How to Implement Meaningful Change in Higher Education and Career Settings,” emphasised the transition from dialogue to action by highlighting practical strategies, institutional practices, and policy-driven approaches that promote inclusive environments in higher education and employment.

The symposium featured 16 expert speakers from diverse professional and academic backgrounds. Each speaker contributed valuable insights aligned with the symposium’s theme, addressing key issues such as inclusive policy implementation, accessible learning environments, career readiness, and sustainable institutional change.

IDIS 2025 was further enhanced by the introduction of a new segment, the Inclusive Campus Vision Board Contest. This competition was open to universities across ASEAN and aimed to showcase best practices in inclusivity while highlighting innovative initiatives implemented within higher education institutions. A total of 10 teams from universities across ASEAN participated, demonstrating strong understanding and thoughtful proposals addressing inclusivity across multiple aspects of higher education.

The winners of the Inclusive Campus Vision Board Contest were:
Champion: Team MUON, Universiti Malaya, Malaysia
First Runner Up: Team Inclusivision, Universiti Malaya, Malaysia
Second Runner Up:
Team Inclusigama, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia
Team UA KauBay, University of Antique, Philippines

All participating teams presented well articulated ideas and meaningful initiatives that reflected a strong commitment to advancing inclusivity, particularly within higher education settings.

The 6th IDIS 2025 concluded successfully with a total of 281 participants over the two day symposium, reaffirming the continued regional commitment to fostering inclusive, equitable, and accessible higher education and career pathways across ASEAN and beyond.