Faith and Pedagogy in a Global Era: Rethinking Teaching Practices in Islamic Higher Education

Abstract

This study examines how teaching practices in Islamic higher education in Indonesia are shaped at the intersection of faith-based educational values and global pedagogical approaches. Using a qualitative multiple-case design, data were collected from 24 lecturers through interviews, classroom observations, and document analysis. The findings reveal that pedagogy is strongly grounded in faith, with teaching viewed as a moral and purposeful activity aimed at students’ holistic development. At the same time, global approaches such as student-centered learning are selectively adopted, resulting in hybrid practices that combine interaction and participation with continued lecturer guidance. However, this integration remains partial and uneven. Key tensions emerge between authority and autonomy, critical thinking and respect for tradition, and institutional expectations and classroom realities. The study also finds that while institutional policies promote contemporary pedagogies but offer limited guidance on integrating them with value-based educational frameworks, leading to inconsistent implementation. Drawing on a negotiative-integrative perspective, the study argues that teaching is a dynamic and context-dependent process shaped by ongoing negotiation between religious commitments and pedagogical innovation. By illuminating how lecturers actively mediate these competing influences, the study contributes a nuanced understanding of pedagogical adaptation in Islamic higher education highlights the need for clearer pedagogical frameworks, targeted professional development, and stronger institutional support to enable more coherent and meaningful integration.