ALIGN – the project titled “Advancing Leadership and Inclusion for students with Global disabilities in ASEAN Networks” – has been approved by the Academy of Medical Sciences and the Global Challenges Research Fund.
Phu Xuan is the Only Vietnamese University in the ALIGN Network
Phu Xuan is the Only Vietnamese University in the ALIGN Network
Phu Xuan University (PXU) is honored to join this regional ASEAN interdisciplinary network. The consortium includes: Coventry University, UK; Philippine Normal University; Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Malaysia; Universitas Kristen Indonesia (Indonesia Christian University); Phu Xuan University, Vietnam and Centre for Higher Education Research, Vietnam Institute of Educational Sciences.
This project aims to develop a network within the ASEAN region to improve accessibility and inclusion for students with disabilities in higher education, starting from 2021.
The project is being led by Professor Zenaida Reyes at the Philippine Normal University and Professor Lynn Clouder at Coventry University.
Why is This Network Necessary?
It is estimated that around 650 million people in the Asia-Pacific region live with a disability (Cogburn and Kempin Reuter 2017). The 2010 Philippines Census of Population and Housing alone showed that 1.57% of the population had a disability, with more males than females, concentrated in the 5–19 age group—the age where educational attainment is most significantly affected.
This is a global challenge, including in ASEAN countries, where the achievement gap between people with disabilities and those without is at its widest (UNESCO, 2018).
The ALIGN Network, comprising an interdisciplinary partnership from the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam, plays a crucial role in identifying the challenges faced by people with disabilities in higher education across the ASEAN region. More importantly, this network will also allow for mutual support and sharing across the different sectors involved.
Impact of the Project
The project contributes to raising awareness of disabilities in higher education, strengthening the collaborative research capacity of the partners, and providing a framework to demonstrate the future impact of research and capacity building for staff and students.
The broader social impact will result from increased inclusion, independence, and greater participation of people with disabilities in education and the workforce, fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goal of ‘Quality Education for all’.