Integrating Ecotheological Perspectives in Sustainable Education Management: A Mixed Methods Study of Indonesian Islamic Universities

Abstract

This mixed-methods study examines how Islamic ecotheological perspectives can be systematically integrated into sustainable education management in Indonesian Islamic universities (UIN). Grounded in whole-institution sustainability theory and Islamic environmental ethics, the research employed a convergent parallel design with 245 survey respondents and 32 in-depth interviews across five strategically selected UIN institutions. Quantitative analysis revealed significant positive correlations between ecotheological awareness and sustainability practices (r = 0.68, p < 0.001), with hierarchical regression models explaining 52% of variance in institutional sustainability outcomes. Thematic analysis of qualitative data identified four interconnected mechanisms: theological leadership integration, community-based stakeholder engagement, innovative resource mobilization through Islamic finance, and intrinsic spiritual motivation systems. The study advances theoretical understanding by demonstrating how the Islamic concepts of khalifa (stewardship), tawhid(unity), and mizan (balance) function as institutional organizing principles that enhance conventional sustainability frameworks. Findings indicate that universities successfully integrating ecotheological perspectives achieve significantly higher sustainability performance scores and demonstrate greater resilience in resource-constrained environments. Policy implications include the need for national higher education frameworks explicitly incorporating religious environmental values, strategic utilization of Islamic social finance mechanisms for sustainability projects, and development of faith-based sustainability indicators aligned with UIN Sustainable Development Goals.