Written by Grace Pui Tze Phing
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), through the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH), successfully organised the Cross-Cultural Sharing & Learning Programme: Accessibility and Inclusion on 9 July 2026 at Ruai Wacana, Level 1, Faculty of Cognitive Sciences and Human Development (FCSHD).
The programme aimed to expose FSSH students to cross-cultural learning experiences related to improving accessibility through inclusive facility design and renovation. It also served as a platform for knowledge exchange among students, academics and community organisations from Malaysia and Taiwan, while promoting international collaboration and community engagement.
The programme brought together seven UNIMAS students, comprising two students from the Social Work Programme and five students from the Development Planning and Management Programme, together with 13 students from Tatung University, Taiwan, representing the Electrical Engineering, Foreign Language Application and Industrial Design programmes. The event also welcomed four representatives from the Eden Social Welfare Foundation, Taiwan, an organisation with more than four decades of experience in empowering and supporting persons with physical disabilities, as well as two representatives from House of Joy (Persatuan OKU Kuching). Serving as a soft launch of the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the initiative aimed to strengthen academic collaboration, cultural exchange and community engagement between the participating institutions.
The selection of students from the Social Work Programme and the Development Planning and Management Programme was carefully aligned with the objectives of the programme. While Social Work students contributed perspectives on disability inclusion, community empowerment and social participation, Development Planning and Management students explored accessibility from the perspectives of universal design, inclusive planning and the built environment. The multidisciplinary interaction provided participants with a broader understanding of how physical accessibility and social inclusion complement one another in creating barrier-free communities.
The delegation from Taiwan arrived in Kuching on Monday evening as part of a credited University Social Responsibility (USR) internship course organised by Tatung University in collaboration with the Eden Social Welfare Foundation. The course is designed to provide students with opportunities to apply the technical knowledge and professional skills acquired throughout their university studies to address real community needs. Through this initiative, students are encouraged to embrace social responsibility while developing practical solutions to improve the quality of life of vulnerable communities.
Reflecting on the importance of inclusive planning, Associate Professor Chun-Lung Chi from Tatung University remarked, “We are not creating an environment specially for a group of people, but for everyone. Facilities should be designed based on the principle of universal needs and accessibility.” He encouraged participants to embrace Universal Design as a philosophy that creates equitable, safe and inclusive spaces for people of all ages and abilities.
This visit marked the first time Tatung University had implemented its University Social Responsibility (USR) programme outside Taiwan, with UNIMAS selected as one of its international collaboration partners to host the accessibility and inclusion workshop. The collaboration reflected the shared commitment of both institutions to promoting experiential learning, community engagement and international academic partnership.
Prior to the workshop at UNIMAS, the Tatung University students had been carrying out accessibility improvement projects at Chin Fu Methodist Church and House of Joy (Persatuan OKU Kuching). Working alongside representatives from the Eden Social Welfare Foundation and House of Joy, the students assessed existing facilities and proposed renovation and accessibility enhancement initiatives aimed at creating more inclusive environments for individuals with mobility challenges.
Throughout the programme, participants engaged in interactive discussions, collaborative learning activities and the sharing of best practices on accessibility assessment, inclusive facility renovation and community participation. The exchange of experiences between Malaysian and Taiwanese participants not only broadened the students’ perspectives but also encouraged interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing accessibility issues within diverse communities.
A highlight of the programme was the observation of the interactive learning session by the University Social Responsibility (USR) Department under the Taiwan Ministry of Education, which joined the programme via livestream from 3.00 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. as part of its monitoring and engagement activities. The livestream showcased the active participation and interaction between students from Tatung University and UNIMAS, highlighting the role of international collaboration in promoting inclusive education and community-based learning.
FSSH – A Partner for Social Change