UMPSA organises iNCLUSIVE 2025 to strengthen commitment towards inclusive technology and education

PEKAN, 29 May 2025 – Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) marked its milestone by organising for the first time the International Carnival on Inclusive Technology and Ecosystem (iNCLUSIVE) 2025, held at the UMPSA Library, Pekan.

The carnival’s officiating ceremony was graced by a Member of the Senate, Parliament of Malaysia, the Honourable Senator Isaiah D. Jacob.

In his speech, he expressed gratitude and appreciation for UMPSA’s efforts in spearheading a more inclusive and sustainable approach to higher education.

“I express my appreciation for UMPSA’s initiative that brings together various parties from the education, industry, and community sectors towards building an inclusive technology ecosystem for the nation.

“Such efforts will catalyse innovation and national well-being, in line with the MADANI policy that emphasises social justice, creativity, and shared prosperity,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr Yatimah Alias, described the organisation of iNCLUSIVE 2025 as a historic moment introducing a new narrative in the national higher education landscape by integrating technological excellence with values of humanity and empathy.

“iNCLUSIVE is not merely a programme, but a platform for us to showcase technology that unites and heals, in line with sustainable development goals such as SDG 4, 9, and 10,” she stated.

Among the major milestones announced during this carnival was the upgrade of the UMPSA Disability Services Unit to the Inclusive Services Centre, further strengthening the institution’s commitment to providing a comprehensive learning environment.

This centre encompasses infrastructure support, curriculum integration, psychosocial support, and career development for students with special needs.

The iNCLUSIVE 2025 carnival, themed Education, Technology and Ecosystem, successfully brought together seven main programmes including a virtual conference, physical exhibition, hybrid forums, and an e-sports clinic – reflecting a multidimensional approach in efforts to deliver technology to all.

A total of 23 exhibition booths from various agencies were open to participants today.

The carnival also featured two main forum sessions themed Sharing of Best Practices, conducted in a hybrid format.

The first slot, The Synergy of HATi, Technology as Enabler for the Inclusive Community, featured the Director of the Inclusive Services Centre, UMPSA, Dr Munira Abdul Razak as moderator, while Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Yatimah Alias, Ts. Dr Aidrina Mohamed Sofiadin, Lecturer at the Kulliyyah of Information and Communication Technology (IIUM), and Miki Yoshikazu, CEO of Jonetsu Company Inc., Japan, served as panel members.

This session highlighted technology as a driver of inclusive communities through the Humanity-Aided Technology (HATi) approach, focusing on the application of technology to empower vulnerable groups.

The second slot, iNCLUSIVE: From Campus to Global Community, featured Mohammad Hazeem Azemi, Special Education Teacher from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Kuala Krau, as moderator.

The panellists were the Honourable Senator Isaiah D. Jacob, Dato’ Mohd Suhaimi Jaafar, Secretary of Special Tasks Division, ASEAN-Malaysia National Secretariat, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Dr Mohd Zulkifli Abdul Rahim, Head of the OKU Transformation Centre USM-MAIK.

The discussion in this slot emphasised aspirations to carry inclusive values from campus to the global stage, in line with Malaysia’s efforts to strengthen its role in the regional and international development framework.

Through this carnival, UMPSA once again demonstrated its role as a leading technical university that not only prioritises academic and technological excellence but also places inclusivity as the core principle in developing a progressive and competitive higher education institution.

By: Naqiah Puaad, Centre for Corporate Communications

Translation by: Dr. Rozaimi Abu Samah, UMPSA Press