Navigating Curriculum Reform in Islamic Education: A Critical Review of Institutional Adaptive Capacity

Muhamad Kholil Ridwan; Nila Hanif Ulfiana; Khoirul Anwar; Muhamad Bisri Ihwan

doi:10.61987/jemr.v5i5.2537

Authors

Muhamad Kholil Ridwan Universitas Kh. Mukhtar Syafaat, Indonesia
Nila Hanif Ulfiana Universitas Kh. Mukhtar Syafaat, Indonesia
Khoirul Anwar Universitas Kh. Mukhtar Syafaat, Indonesia
Muhamad Bisri Ihwan Universitas Kh. Mukhtar Syafaat, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61987/jemr.v5i5.2537

Keywords:

Adaptive Capacity, Curriculum Reform, Islamic Education, Organizational Change

Abstract

Curriculum reform is widely used to improve educational quality and respond to social, technological, and changing competency demands. However, successful reform depends not only on policy design but also on educational institutions’ capacity to implement and sustain change. This is particularly important for Islamic educational institutions, which must address contemporary educational demands while maintaining religious identity and institutional values. This study examines the adaptive capacity of Islamic educational institutions in responding to curriculum reform, identifies organizational factors shaping adaptation, and develops a conceptual model of institutional responsiveness. It employs a qualitative critical literature review. Relevant publications from Scopus, Web of Science, ERIC, and Google Scholar covering 2010–2025 were examined using thematic analysis. The synthesis identifies four interrelated dimensions of adaptive capacity: adaptive leadership, organizational learning, resource flexibility, and integration of Islamic values. These dimensions influence how institutions interpret policy changes, mobilize support, adjust practices, and maintain institutional legitimacy. The proposed model frames curriculum reform as an organizational process rather than merely a technical or pedagogical adjustment. Its implications include strengthening leadership, institutional learning, resource management, and value-sensitive change strategies, while providing a foundation for future empirical testing.

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