Collaboration between UNISA Yogyakarta and JAMK University Finland: Innovation in Digital-Based Rehabilitation Services

A happy smile appears on the face of a mother in Sanden, Bantul Regency. She no longer has to travel long distances to the city just to undergo physical training and rehabilitation. Now, with the assistance of health cadres and the help of an application on a simple device, she can train at home. This story comes from Project Inclusion, a collaboration between ‘Aisyiyah University (UNISA) Yogyakarta and JAMK University Finland.

This collaboration is in line with the WHO Rehabilitation 2030 global agenda, which emphasizes that rehabilitation is a right for everyone. Through the Inclusion App, technology and local wisdom come together: village health workers are at the forefront, students are directly involved, and lecturers and researchers collaborate across countries.

“Until now, the limited number of physiotherapists has meant that villagers often miss out on access to services. The Inclusion App bridges that gap,” said a cadre who had just been trained to use the application.

The impact extends beyond health. With this application, communities save costs and time, transportation emissions are reduced, and rural women gain greater space to empower themselves as health agents. People with disabilities now have more equitable access to services that were previously difficult to reach.

Not only that, Project Inclusion has also raised Indonesia’s profile on the international stage. UNISA Yogyakarta and JAMK have organized a cross-border Digital Rehabilitation Summit, published joint research, and opened up opportunities for exporting application-based health technology. “This is not just research, but academic diplomacy that shows that Indonesia can provide global solutions,” said one of the UNISA Yogyakarta lecturers enthusiastically.

With this initiative, UNISA Yogyakarta asserts itself not merely as a local university but as a pioneer in digital rehabilitation, bringing tangible benefits to rural communities while strengthening the nation’s global reputation.

Project Inclusion is proof that when knowledge, technology, and human compassion converge, new hope can emerge even from a small village—for the world.