by Zaini Nisa Fadilah
6th Semester Student / Islamic Education Management Department / Class MPI6E / UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung
This essay aims to systematically explain how Islamic religious education can be enhanced through innovative management approaches. In facing global challenges, Islamic education needs proper strategies to initiate reform. Innovation here does not merely mean new ideas but refers to the structured management of ideas aimed at improving the quality of education. This discussion focuses on four key aspects of innovation in Islamic education management.
First: Basic Concepts of Innovation in Islamic Religious Education; Innovation management in Islamic education is the process of managing new ideas to improve the quality of education. Its characteristics include excellence, relevance, testability, visible results, and ease of implementation. The guiding principles are analytical and conceptual thinking, starting with small changes, and aiming to become a pioneer in educational reform. The main targets of innovation include curriculum, school discipline, management systems, and teaching methods. The ultimate goals are to enhance quality, efficiency, and equitable access to education.
Second: Models of Innovation in Islamic Religious Education; There are four key models in Islamic education innovation. First, invention, which involves the creation or adaptation of new ideas. Second, development, which focuses on refining innovations through research before broad implementation. Third, diffusion, the process of distributing new ideas to end users. Fourth, adoption, which refers to the acceptance and application of innovations by individuals or groups within the educational system. These four models work in synergy to build a solid innovation framework.
Third: Strategies for Developing Innovation in Islamic Religious Education; There are three main strategies for innovation development. Power coercive strategy involves top-down implementation without active involvement from implementers. Empirical-rational strategy relies on logic and real-life experiences to ensure realistic innovations. Normative-re-educative strategy emphasizes repeated understanding and education aligned with Islamic educational values. The choice of strategy greatly influences the acceptance and success of innovation.
Fourth: Processes and Procedures of Innovation in Islamic Religious Education; The innovation process consists of five stages: knowledge, where individuals become aware of the innovation; persuasion, where attitudes toward the innovation are formed; decision, which involves accepting or rejecting the innovation; implementation, where accepted innovations are put into practice; and confirmation, an evaluation phase that either reinforces or withdraws the innovation. These stages highlight that innovation is not instantaneous but follows a clear, structured process.
Innovation in Islamic religious education management is a vital step toward improving quality, efficiency, and equity in education. Through a thorough understanding of concepts, models, strategies, and processes of innovation, Islamic educational institutions can develop sustainably while preserving their core Islamic values.
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*) This paper is summarized from the Course Material for the International Islamic Education Management Course, Part 11. Lecturer: Prof. Dr. H. A. Rusdiana, M.M.
