p–ISSN: 2723 - 6609 e-ISSN: 2745-5254

Vol. 5, No. 7 July 2024 http://jist.publikasiindonesia.id/

Jurnal Indonesia Sosial Teknologi, Vol. 5, No. 7, July 2024 3230

Perception and Implementation of the Islamic Community

Development Study Program in Indonesia

Abd. Gappar Yusuf

, Fitri Yanti

, Bambang Budiwiranto

3

, [email protected]

*Correspondence

The study of the development of Islamic society is related to social, economic, and

cultural aspects in Indonesia (Bayu, 2020). Socially, this development plays a role in

strengthening community cohesion through the cultivation of Islamic values that

encourage tolerance, solidarity, and cooperation between citizens (Ananda, Puspita, &

Lidia, 2024). From an economic perspective, Islamic community development programs

can encourage the economic empowerment of the ummah through various initiatives such

as sharia cooperatives, productive zakat, and productive waqf, which aim to improve the

economic welfare of the community (Sutjipto, 2017). Culturally, this development helps

Jurnal Indonesia Sosial Teknologi, Vol. 5, No. 7, July 2024 3231

improving people's quality of life but also important in building a solid foundation for

sustainable national development.

Education plays an important role in shaping a prosperous and just society through

the improvement of knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for a productive and

harmonious life. (Supardi Hamid & Rusmawan, 2022). With equal access to education,

every individual has the opportunity to develop his or her potential, which in turn

contributes to improving economic well-being through job creation, increased

productivity, and poverty reduction. (Aminuddin, Harahap, & Dawi, 2021). In addition,

education also plays a role in instilling the values of justice, equality, and respect for

human rights, which are the basis for the creation of an inclusive and democratic society.

developed and developing countries. (Dalimoenthe, 2023; Rustiadi, 2018). Even

countries that are considered developed and prosperous also face internal challenges

related to the fulfilment of welfare rights for their citizens. The weaknesses of the welfare

state model are beginning to be seen with the increasing dependence of society on the

country, which contributes to the resource crisis.

Community development involves a series of processes, tasks, practices, and

visions to empower communities to actively participate in their development. The goal is

to allow people to control their own goals. To achieve effective control, it is necessary to

have a sustainable development structure and process in which communities can identify

and formulate issues, needs, and problems that are relevant to them. Effective control also

category of books about community development. Although the price of books remains

an issue for practitioners, this collection of books is now more accessible regularly.

Although the context of community development at both the national and

international levels has undergone substantial changes in recent years, much of the

information documented in publications comes from the International Association for

Community Development (www.cdglobal.org). Valuable lessons can be learned from

tracing the history of these various sources that can help practitioners learn from previous

mistakes.

Community development experts from various countries have examined the issue

of community development from various perspectives, including its concept, practice,

goals, and sustainability. In Indonesia, awareness of community development concepts is

still relatively low in the international context as reflected in previous discussions.

The Indonesian government has implemented various policies to support higher

education and the development of Islamic society, to improve the quality of human

resources and the welfare of the people. In terms of regulations, the government has

issued Regulation of the Minister of Religion No. 15 of 2018 concerning Islamic

Religious Education and Islamic Boarding School Education, which regulates the

governance of Islamic higher education and its development. In addition, the government

through the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology and the Ministry

of Religious Affairs provides funding in the form of scholarships such as the Indonesian

the potential of Muslims in various aspects of life, including social, economic, and

cultural. This support shows the government's commitment to strengthening the role of

Islamic higher education as an important pillar in inclusive and sustainable national

development.

Although the Islamic community development study program is popular, there are

several serious polemics related to its basic concept. One example is the variation of

different definitions regarding the development of Islamic society. Supposedly, in a

discipline, there is consistency in perception even though there are variations in the

arrangement of words in definitions. However, this variation should not change the

direction or purpose of a theoretical concept.

theories as solutions to understand and overcome existing problems, as well as as a guide

to analyze social phenomena that occur to find alternatives or solutions. Among these

theories are the concept of community development and the concept of Islamic

community development as the main theory. Each theory has its use in the context and

phenomenon that is appropriate to the situation in the field.

design. In this qualitative research, the researcher conducts an in-depth and systematic

analysis of the object being studied. (Fadli, 2021; Ramdhan, 2021; Sari et al., 2022). This

Jurnal Indonesia Sosial Teknologi, Vol. 5, No. 7, July 2024 3233

research involves collecting data through in-depth interviews with lecturers, students, and

practitioners in the field of Islamic community development, as well as direct observation

of program implementation in several Islamic universities in Indonesia. The purposive

sampling technique is used to select informants who have knowledge and experience

relevant to the research topic. In addition, document analysis of the curriculum, program

reports, and related policies was also carried out to obtain a comprehensive overview of

the perception and implementation of this study program. The collected data was analyzed

using thematic analysis methods to identify the main patterns and themes that emerged,

which were then used to prepare conclusions and recommendations related to the

development of Islamic community development study programs.

Perception of the Islamic Community Development Study Program in Indonesia

The Islamic Community Development Study Program in Indonesia has historical

roots that are closely related to the development of Islamic education and the community's

need for social empowerment based on Islamic values. The program was born out of the

awareness that Islamic education should be more than just religious teaching; It must be

a tool to improve the quality of life of the people and answer the social, economic, and

cultural challenges faced by society.

One of the important milestones in this history was the establishment of study

programs that combined Islamic principles with social science and development

approaches. The State Islamic University (UIN) and several state Islamic religious

institutes (IAIN) in Indonesia pioneered the establishment of the Islamic Community

Development Study Program, which is designed to train students in identifying social

problems, designing empowerment programs, and facilitating positive change in society.

The growth process of the Islamic community development study program has

received a positive response from education providers and the general public. This is

evidenced by the increase in the number of existing study programs. Until 2023, there are

at least 22 study programs spread across various Islamic universities in Indonesia.

faculty of Da'wah and Communication. However, even though it is popular in the

scientific field, there are still many obstacles faced, especially related to limitations in the

postgraduate education level.

Until 2023, there are only three universities that offer postgraduate programs in the

development of Islamic society, consisting of three master's programs at Raden Intan

State Islamic University Lampung, Imam Bonjol Padang State Islamic University, and

Sunan Kalijaga State Islamic University Yogyakarta, as well as one doctoral program at

Raden Intan State Islamic University Lampung.

The many Islamic community development study programs in Indonesia have given

rise to various perceptions, both among academics and the general public. This perception

is reflected in several aspects as follows:

society is an object that causes its focus to be only on Islamic society. On the other hand,

there is an opinion that states that "Islam" in the development of Islamic society is an

adjective that indicates that the development of this society is general.

Third, there is a view that all Islamic community development study programs in

Indonesia must have uniformity in terms of science, curriculum, practice, and cooperation

with other institutions so that the characteristics of each Islamic community development

study program in each university become general.

Fourth, there is a view of alumni from Islamic community development study

programs who are often considered to have only skills in da'wah, so the community

development carried out tends to be monotonous and exclusive in society.

education to a higher level.

The marketing of Islamic community development science emphasizes the value of

da'wah as an advantage offered to the community, with the main target being the Muslim

community. As a pioneer in Islamic community development study programs, these

efforts are not only limited to the undergraduate level but also extend to graduate

programs. From the results of the researcher's observations, Raden Intan State Islamic

University Lampung is recorded as the first university to open a postgraduate master's

program and the only one that holds a doctoral program in the field of Islamic community

development.

Jurnal Indonesia Sosial Teknologi, Vol. 5, No. 7, July 2024 3235

The second is the development of Islamic communities in the Eastern Indonesia

Region, especially at the Alauddin State Islamic University of Makassar. The initial

process of developing the science of Islamic community development here turns out to

be more complex than elsewhere. This study program was first formed on March 23,

1999, with the initial goal of developing the values of da'wah science. However, as time

goes by, there is a significant decrease in student interest from year to year. In 2006, there

was a drastic decline in the number of students who chose Islamic community

development programs.

Seeing these conditions, several lecturers deliberated to develop a strategy so that

this program remains relevant and not deleted. As a result of these discussions, they

Some of the institutions that have successfully collaborated with the Islamic

Community Development Study Program include the Ministry of Social Affairs, the

Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection, the South Sulawesi Provincial

General Election Commission, the South Sulawesi Provincial Population and Family

Planning Agency, and others. This collaboration is considered an important achievement

for the Development of the Islamic Society at Alauddin State Islamic University

Makassar, which resulted in an adjustment in their scientific structure. When reviewing

the curriculum, the subjects offered are adjusted to the needs of government and private

institutions that have collaborated through the signing of a Memorandum of

Understanding.

Education (Kemenristek Dikti).

The separation of study programs has affected fluctuations in student interest, but

until 2021, accreditation data from the Islamic Community Development of Alauddin

State Islamic University of Makassar shows that student interest remains stable. In fact,

in the same year, it won the title of A (Excellent) accreditation.

The development of the Islamic community at one of the leading universities on the

island of Java, Sunan Kalijaga State Islamic University Yogyakarta, shows a unique and

extraordinary process in the establishment of the Islamic Community Development

undergraduate program. The university managed to record the best achievement in the

history of the program's establishment.

Since its inception in 1998, the program has undergone a significant scientific

transformation. In addition to prioritizing da'wah science, this program also emphasizes

social and social sciences both in concept and practice.

The development of the Islamic Community Development study program at Sunan

Kalijaga State Islamic University has different challenges from other universities, which

results in its rapid development with few obstacles. State Islamic University has shown

its progress by building many cooperative partnerships, both at home and abroad. Since

2021, the Sunan Kalijaga Islamic Community Development program has applied for

international accreditation from the Foundation for International Business Administration

Accreditation (FIBAA), along with 18 other study programs.

During the research on the development process of Islamic society in Indonesia, the

analysis conducted showed that there were similarities in the obstacles faced by

universities, but the strategies used to overcome these obstacles varied. The results

obtained also vary according to geographical conditions and individual needs.

The main challenge faced by universities that have Islamic Community

Development Study Programs is the decline in student interest. This factor can be caused

by several things. First, the public's perception of the usefulness of graduates of this

program may not be completely clear or directly visible in the job market. Students are

often more likely to choose a study program that is considered to have a clearer career

prospect immediately after graduation.

tend to choose courses that offer flexibility in their careers and the opportunity to

contribute to different fields of work.

To address these challenges, universities need to increase promotion and

information regarding the benefits and career opportunities offered by the Islamic Society

Development Study Program. They also need to constantly update their curriculum and

teaching methods to ensure that they meet the demands and needs of the current job

market. Collaboration with industry, community organizations, and government agencies

is also important to ensure that graduates of this program have relevant and necessary

skills and knowledge in the field. With this strategy, it is hoped that students' interest in

Jurnal Indonesia Sosial Teknologi, Vol. 5, No. 7, July 2024 3237

the Islamic Community Development Study Program can increase again, while still

fulfilling the mission to build a better society based on Islamic values.

The implications of the research findings on the Islamic Community Development

Study Program have an important impact on higher education policy in Indonesia. First,

these findings show the need for increased investment in curriculum development that is

responsive to the social and economic needs of the community, as well as the integration

of Islamic values in the context of sustainable development. Higher education policies

should strengthen frameworks that support relevant curriculum innovation and practice-

based learning to ensure graduates can face global and local challenges with better

preparedness.

acquired in these study programs. Furthermore, policy development must consider

incentives for universities that successfully adapt their study programs to the needs of the

community and the job market and promote excellence in community empowerment

based on Islamic values. Thus, higher education policies can play an active role in

supporting and developing the Islamic Community Development Study Program to meet

the challenges and expectations of the current and future Indonesian society.

researcher concluded that there was a significant variation in the perception of the Islamic

Community Development Study Program from various perspectives. These differences

include the basic concepts, objectives, directions, object studies, and their implementation

in academic and social practice. In addition, this study program faces various challenges

and dynamics in its development. The main challenges faced include a decline in student

interest due to a lack of flexibility in adapting science to the times and variations in

perceptions about the concept and benefits of Islamic Community Development.

Nevertheless, several universities that have succeeded in transforming and integrating

social sciences with Islamic values in their curriculum, can maintain and increase the

attractiveness and relevance of this study program. This conclusion underscores the

Bibliography

Aminuddin, Aminuddin, Harahap, Ahmad Sukri, & Dawi, M. Nuh. (2021). Sistem

Finansial Pendidikan Di Indonesia (Analisis Tentang Signifikansinya Terhadap

Pengelolaan Human Capital). Hikmah, 18(2), 119–130.

Ananda, Dhea Gita, Puspita, Aisyah, & Lidia, Dewi. (2024). Pendidikan Moderasi

Beragama: Membangun Toleransi Dan Keberagaman. AL-Ikhtiar: Jurnal Studi

Islam, 1(3), 192–203.

Bayu, Bayu Suratman. (2020). Manajemen Pendidik Dan Tenaga Kependidikan Di Paud

It Alhamdulillah Yogyakarta. Atta’dib Jurnal Pendidikan Agama Islam, 1(1), 34–