Page 8 - Mainstreamer Volume 1, Issue 4, November 2023

NEED FOR INCLUSIVITY
Digital Transformation and Inclusive Education in Malaysian Higher

Education Institutions

Alias
Abd Aziz

igital transformation has become a global to meet those needs. The digital shift in higher
phenomenon, and Malaysia is no exception. education has compounded these challenges,
DThis trend has prompted the need for the rendering SWD an increasingly vulnerable group at
emerging workforce, especially higher education risk of being left behind.
institutions (HEIs) graduates, to be well-prepared According to Ajrun (2021), the digital divide,
for this digital shift. The Malaysian government or the gap between PWD and persons without
has displayed a strong commitment to position the disabilities in accessing the Internet and
country as a digital economy leader, with initiatives information communication technology (ICT),
such as the Malaysian Digital Economy Blueprint or is often overlooked in Malaysia despite being
MyDIGITAL. regarded as a global issue. In bridging this gap,

HEIs serve as pivotal hubs for nurturing the respective ministry, especially the Ministry
knowledge economies in the 21st century, and of Higher Education (MoHE) Malaysia, with the
digital technologies play a central role in realising related initiatives and programmes should focus
this potential. Consequently, as the world embraces on improving the digital literacy of PWD to prevent
digitalisation, HEIs in Malaysia must adapt to this them from falling further behind, particularly in
transformation. The COVID-19 pandemic expedited employment opportunities. HEIs need to offer
the transition to digital education worldwide, with training and knowledge to SWD to help them
lockdown measures forcing universities to pivot adapt to the digital environment effectively. The
from traditional teaching to digital platforms like key question is whether SWD in Malaysia can
Google Meet, Teams, Zoom and others (Crawford effectively cope with this transformation and
et al., 2020). whether HEIs provide the necessary facilities and
While the acceleration of technological environment to prevent them from being left
advancements and shifts towards more equitable behind.
education opportunities have brought numerous In pursuing inclusive education, it is essential
benefits, they have also presented new challenges to ensure that SWD can fully participate in digital
for inclusive education. A digital divide has learning and teaching environments without
emerged, separating students with disabilities encountering accessibility barriers. These barriers
(SWD) from their non-disabled counterparts. This encompass technical accessibility and the concepts
digital divide represents the gap between those that make technology operable for people with
who can effectively utilise digital technology and various disabilities. While digital technologies in
those who cannot (Peruzzo & Allan, 2022). education offer numerous benefits, unequal access
It is important to recognise that even before the has created difficulties for SWD, impacting their
pandemic-driven digital transformation, Malaysia learning experiences. Previous research highlighted
faced challenges in providing inclusive education. that SWD face a higher risk of prematurely
Despite numerous studies addressing the obstacles withdrawing or dropping out of universities than
SWD face in HEIs and offering strategies for their non-disabled peers, and the digitalisation of
inclusive education, a gap remains between the education exacerbates these challenges.
needs of SWD and what universities, including Moreover, SWD often invest more time and
faculty, administrative staff and leadership, provide effort than their non-disabled peers in coping with

7 November 2023 | Vol. 01, Issue 4