A lecturer at the Faculty of Economics and Business Universitas Gadjah Mada (FEB UGM), Wuri Handayani, S.E., Ak., M.Si., M.A., Ph.D., has received the U21 Awards 2026 – Inclusive Global Engagement from the Universitas 21 (U21) consortium. The award was presented in recognition of her contributions to promoting inclusive global collaboration, particularly for persons with disabilities within higher education institutions.
Wuri’s achievements stem from her advocacy efforts to ensure that people with disabilities receive structured support services tailored to their needs, particularly at university. These efforts involved collaborations with various parties, including research partnerships with the University of Nottingham and her active involvement in the U21 Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity Working Group. Within the U21 forum, she actively participated in discussions and contributed to reports on the development of inclusivity across universities, including collaborations with international academic Paul Harpur from Australia.
Wuri’s involvement in disability issues began from both personal and academic experiences. As a person with a disability, she once faced structural discrimination and had been rejected from employment opportunities due to her disability. Her experience pursuing a master’s degree at the University of Leeds, United Kingdom, through the Chevening Scholarship further strengthened her commitment to advocating for persons with disabilities. While at university, she saw how people with different disabilities and requirements received good support.
Upon returning to Indonesia, Wuri continued advocating for the establishment of disability support units. When she joined UGM in 2018, the university had not yet established a Disability Service Unit (ULD). After completing her PhD, she became strongly committed to initiating the ULD at UGM, especially following the enactment of Law No. 8 of 2016 concerning Persons with Disabilities. In 2019, she became actively involved in the establishment process of the ULD, although the initiative was temporarily halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The efforts regained momentum in 2023 through workshops and the preparation of the academic manuscript for the ULD. These initiatives culminated in the issuance of the official decree establishing the ULD in May 2024, followed by its inauguration in December 2024.
During the award selection process, Wuri presented various achievements, including the initiation of UGM’s ULD, grants from the British Council (Social Action Grant) and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of Indonesia, as well as international research collaborations with the University of Nottingham. Wuri stood out from a pool of around 100 candidates from various countries to receive the award.
“Of course, I feel proud to bring honor to UGM through this award. I see this achievement as a momentum to raise awareness of the importance of inclusivity. Hopefully, it can become a best practice within higher education institutions in Indonesia,” she stated.
Furthermore, she emphasized that international collaboration is key to strengthening inclusive practices. According to her, Indonesia still has much to learn from global practices in understanding different forms of disabilities and providing appropriate services.
“In Indonesia, inclusivity has not yet been fully achieved as the definition of disability continues to evolve. We need to build global engagement through practical collaboration and research so that we can adopt approaches that are suitable for our context,” she explained.
On the other hand, UGM’s ULD has demonstrated tangible impacts in fostering inclusivity on campus. One of them is the increasing number of students with disabilities applying to UGM, along with growing awareness among the academic community of the need to provide services for individuals with special needs. To support students’ individual needs, several learning adjustments have also been implemented.
Wuri noted that there are still many challenges in realizing a truly inclusive campus. One of the main priorities is improving accessibility, particularly the infrastructure within UGM. In addition, efforts to expand inclusivity must continue by strengthening systems, raising awareness, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders to achieve a sustainable educational environment that is welcoming to everyone.
“Inclusivity is about seeing differences as a source of richness. Like a rainbow that is beautiful because of its diverse colors, differences become a strength in achieving shared goals in education,” Wuri concluded.
The U21 Awards 2026 ceremony was held on 21 April 2026 during The Universitas 21 Annual Network Meeting and Leadership Summit at the University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland. UGM Vice Rector for Research, Business Development, and Cooperation, Dr. Danang Sri Hadmoko, S.Si., M.Sc., attended the event and accepted the award on behalf of Wuri Handayani. Danang stated that this achievement reflects UGM’s commitment to becoming an inclusive and welcoming campus for all members of its academic community.
“As the leader of UGM’s ULD, she has demonstrated the university’s commitment to building an inclusive campus and making UGM a home for everyone to learn, engage, build careers, and shape their future. The role of this unit is essential in ensuring that no one is left behind,” he remarked.
Reported by: Shofi Hawa Anjani
Editor: Kurnia Ekaptiningrum
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