Taylor’s School of Education in partnership with the Southeast Asia Minister of Education Organization Regional Centre for Special Educational Needs (SEAMEO SEN), co-organised the prestigious 5th International Conference on Special Education (ICSE) 2023 that was held in Taylor's University Lakeside Campus. SEAMEO SEN is a regional intergovernmental organization established in 2012 among governments of Southeast Asian countries to enhance quality Disability-Inclusive Education practices in South East Asia (SEA) region.
ICSE 2023 with the theme of "Gearing Towards Disability-Inclusive Education Recovery", welcomed more than 500 attendees from 15 countries, and sparked global dialogue on key strategies for inclusive education recovery. The conference provided new insights in teaching and learning especially in tackling post-pandemic learning recoveries. Educators, Education Officers, Parents and the public had the opportunity to better understand and enhance their knowledge and skills in Disability-Inclusive Education. The conference also served as an important platform for educators to exchange best practices, ideas, establish networking as well as gaining ideas and knowledge of current trends in the area of Disability-Inclusive Education.
A unique feature of ICSE 2023 was that it was held concurrently with an Innovation Competition which aimed to promote creative and innovative culture in disability-inclusive education, address Southeast Asia issues with practical solutions, and produce the most outstanding talents for product development, further research, and commercialization especially among Disability-Inclusive Education educators.
The conference, graced by Dr. Ahmad Rafee Bin Che Kassim, Deputy Director General of Education Malaysia (Teachers Professional Development), Ministry of Education Malaysia, featured three Keynote Speakers and six Plenary Speakers, collectively mapping out impactful strategies for disability-inclusive education recovery. It was also honored to have Prof. Dr. Pradeep Nair, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer of Taylor’s University, a passionate advocate for quality and inclusive education, delivered a welcome speech to all delegates.
In addition to the conference, Taylor’s University also hosted the Board Members from all 11 Southeast Asian countries for their 11th SEAMEO SEN Governing Board Meeting 2023, emphasizing regional collaboration and a collective commitment to advancing special education.
This collaborative effort reflected Taylor’s commitment to enhancing the quality of Special Educational Needs in the Southeast Asian region. Supported by Taylor's Education for All Impact Lab and the Faculty of Social Sciences & Leisure Management, this marked a historic milestone, as Taylor’s University became the first Malaysian University to collaborate with SEAMEO SEN in such a collaboration.
As we celebrate this milestone, gratitude was extended to all contributors, acknowledging the collaborative efforts that are reshaping the landscape of inclusive education for learners with disabilities.