Paul Harpur

In Australia, over 12% of the 1.9 million higher education students (190,000+) identify as having a disability. Despite this, barriers continue to restrict access to learning and employment pathways. Closing these gaps requires inclusive education pipelines, employer engagement, and accountability frameworks that translate rights into practice.

Professor Harpur advances a vision where inclusion is the default. He positions universities as engines for training, employing, and empowering disability leaders while driving inclusive research and innovation. At The University of Queensland, he directs the UQ Disability Collaboratory, a network of ~400 researchers that aligns research with lived experience, fosters co‑design, and advances institutional inclusion strategies.

Beyond UQ, he contributes to national reform through the Higher Education Standards Panel and supports accessibility within regulatory frameworks. Globally, he led the Universitas 21 Disability Inclusion Policy Mapping Report, coordinating 34 co‑authors and 100+ contributors across 30 universities. He further amplifies impact through roles with Harvard Law School, the Burton Blatt Institute, and international disability research networks.

Professor Harpur’s work has delivered measurable outcomes across policy, practice, and research. His contributions to the Universities Accord and collaboration with the Department of Education have strengthened disability inclusion in higher education policy. His advocacy has advanced co‑design, universal design for learning, and accountability.

Internationally, the U21 report provides a practical pathway for embedding CRPD principles across teaching, research, and governance. At UQ, the Disability Collaboratory has accelerated collaboration, innovation, and community partnerships. These efforts are supported by sector data and working papers demonstrating progress toward inclusive standards and implementation.

This work benefits students and staff with disabilities, universities, employers, governments, and disability organisations. In Australia, over 190,000 students stand to gain from improved access, support, and outcomes. Inclusive teaching and co‑designed services improve equity and completion rates.

Governments and employers benefit from strengthened compliance frameworks and universal design practices that support all learners and workers. Disability organisations gain stronger pathways for collaboration and representation. Internationally, the U21 initiative influences institutions educating over one million students and employing more than 200,000 staff across 20 countries, creating global impact.

Professor Harpur’s leadership of the U21 Disability Inclusion Policy Mapping Report established the first global benchmarking framework for disability inclusion across 30 universities in 20 countries. Its recommendations—such as universal design for learning and inclusive work‑integrated learning—are being implemented across the network.

In Australia, his roles on national advisory bodies have shaped policy and strengthened institutional practice. He is also a widely cited scholar, with 4 books, 30+ chapters, 60+ articles, and over 2,200 citations, demonstrating sustained academic and policy influence.