EduAsiaNews, Surabaya — Mochammad Fadillah Akbar, a student in the Special Education Study Program at the Faculty of Education (FIP), Universitas Negeri Surabaya (Unesa), has won two national-level achievements: third place in the National Outstanding Student Selection (Pilmapres) in the Disability Category and first place in the Indonesian Cultural Fashion Parade at Universitas Multimedia Nusantara (UMN), Tangerang, held from August 4 to 7, 2026.
The two achievements demonstrate not only Akbar’s ability to compete at the national level, but also the importance of providing equal opportunities for students with disabilities to develop their potential and achieve excellence. In the two competitions, Akbar demonstrated different strengths, ranging from developing innovative ideas to showcasing creativity in celebrating Indonesia’s cultural diversity.
With guidance from Acep Ovel Novari Beny of Unesa’s Disability Center of Excellence (PUI Disabilitas Unesa), Akbar presented INCO-HUB (Inclusive Coffee & Skill Hub) in the Pilmapres competition. The initiative focuses on empowering deaf people economically through inclusive training, hands-on work experience, and employment opportunities within the coffee-based MSME ecosystem.
In addition to presenting the initiative, Akbar, who is deaf, highlighted 10 outstanding achievements as well as his abilities in public speaking, leadership, entrepreneurship, competitions, and developing innovations aimed at creating social impact.
Meanwhile, in the Indonesian Cultural Fashion Parade, Akbar and his team showcased Indonesia’s cultural diversity by combining elements of traditional attire from Bali, Palembang, and Java with regional dances. The performance served as a medium for conveying a message of diversity and unity.
“Winning first place in the Fashion Parade taught me that cultural diversity can become a strength for building unity,” he said.
For Akbar, the two competitions provided different and valuable experiences. The achievements were not merely about receiving awards, but also about the learning process, preparation, and courage to perform and give his best in national-level competitions.
Communication challenges as a deaf student were also part of the process he had to navigate. However, his condition did not prevent him from preparing thoroughly and participating in the competitions to the best of his ability.
“I have turned it into motivation to show that with preparation, strategy, and confidence, I am still capable of competing and giving my best at the national level,” he said.
Noor Rohmah Mayasari, Head of Unesa’s Section for Student Interests, Talents, Competencies, and Reasoning, described Akbar’s achievements as significant, particularly because both competitions were held for the first time this year.
According to her, Akbar’s accomplishments further strengthen Unesa’s position in developing student potential, particularly in the fields of disability inclusion and the arts. Therefore, support and mentoring for outstanding students should begin early in their university journey through talent mapping and participation in various academic and non-academic activities.
“Going forward, Unesa hopes that earlier mentoring will produce more outstanding students, both in the disability category and among diploma and undergraduate students, who can compete at the national level,” she said.
For Akbar, opportunities to compete should be embraced by recognizing one’s potential, having the courage to try, and continuously developing one’s abilities. He hopes students with disabilities will not limit themselves because of their circumstances, but instead continue to seize opportunities to learn and make meaningful contributions to others.
According to Akbar, achievement does not always begin with something extraordinary. It can start with the courage to take the first step, consistently develop oneself, and create benefits for others.
