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The quality of Catholic Religious Education learning is an important aspect in shaping students’ faith, character, knowledge, and religious life skills. However, the learning process at SMK Negeri 1 Talibura still faces various challenges, particularly in the areas of spiritual attitudes, social attitudes, Catholic religious knowledge, and religious life skills. This study aims to describe the implementation of the Independent Learning Curriculum (Merdeka Belajar Curriculum) and its contribution to improving the quality of Catholic Religious Education learning at SMK Negeri 1 Talibura. The research employed a qualitative approach with a descriptive research design. Data were collected through observations, interviews, and documentation involving the principal, Catholic Religious Education teachers, students, and parents. Data analysis was conducted through data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The results show that the implementation of the Independent Learning Curriculum has been carried out effectively through learning planning, learning implementation, learning assessment, and the Pancasila Student Profile Strengthening Project (P5). This implementation has had a positive impact on the learning process, outputs, and outcomes. Students demonstrated improvements in spiritual attitudes, social attitudes, Catholic religious knowledge, and religious life skills, as well as positive behavioral changes in their daily lives. The findings imply that the Independent Learning Curriculum can serve as an effective strategy for improving the quality of Catholic Religious Education learning in a holistic manner.

The Merdeka Curriculum introduces a paradigm shift in Indonesia's educational assessment system, moving from an outcome-oriented approach toward one that positions evaluation as an integral part of the learning process itself. This article examines how learning evaluation is implemented as an instrument to improve the quality of student learning within the Merdeka Curriculum framework. This study employs a library research method, analyzing relevant policy documents, regulations, and academic literature. The findings indicate that the Merdeka Curriculum shifts the focus of evaluation from mere measurement (assessment of learning) toward assessment as learning and assessment for learning, realized through three main forms of assessment: diagnostic, formative, and summative. Proper implementation of these three forms enables teachers to map students' individual learning needs, provide continuous feedback, and design differentiated instruction that is more relevant to learners' characteristics. However, field implementation still faces several challenges, including uneven teacher understanding, time constraints, and limited technical training in designing authentic assessment instruments. This article recommends strengthening teacher competence, providing practical technical guidance, and offering continuous mentoring as strategic steps to ensure that learning evaluation truly functions as an instrument for improving learning quality, rather than merely an administrative formality.

Guru di sekolah dasar Tahfidz sering kali menghadapi tantangan besar dalam mengintegrasikan pengajaran Al-Qur’an dengan kemampuan pedagogik modern yang mendukung pembelajaran aktif. Kegiatan Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat (PKM) ini bertujuan untuk meningkatkan kompetensi pedagogik dan profesional para guru di SD Tahfidz Ibnu Umar Karawang melalui pelatihan metode pengajaran yang bermakna dan inovatif. Permasalahan utama yang ditemukan di mitra sasaran adalah keterbatasan guru dalam menerapkan pendekatan PAIKEM serta kesulitan dalam menyusun perangkat ajar yang adaptif terhadap prinsip Kurikulum Merdeka. Metode yang digunakan dalam kegiatan ini adalah kombinasi ceramah interaktif, workshop penyusunan modul/RPP, dan praktik langsung melalui sesi microteaching. Pelatihan dilaksanakan dalam tiga sesi utama: (1) pemahaman karakteristik peserta didik usia 7–12 tahun berdasarkan aspek kognitif, sosial-emosional, dan psikomotorik; (2) desain pembelajaran bermakna (meaningful learning); serta (3) strategi pembelajaran aktif seperti Problem-Based Learning (PBL), Discovery Learning, dan pembelajaran kooperatif. Hasil kegiatan menunjukkan adanya peningkatan pemahaman 15 guru peserta dalam menciptakan lingkungan belajar yang berpusat pada siswa (student-centered) serta kemampuan mengintegrasikan teknologi pembelajaran modern (IPTEKS) seperti Canva dan media interaktif dalam proses KBM. Luaran dari program ini mencakup modul pelatihan pedagogik, publikasi artikel ilmiah, dan video diseminasi hasil implementasi metode pembelajaran.

Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) is a new policy that aims to improve student’s soft skills and hard skills before entering the workforce. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions od Universitas Andalas students participating in MBKM on the development of soft skills. This research was conducted using qualitative research methods with grounded theory design. The sampling technique used purposive sampling and obtained 18 informants from 14 faculties at Universitas Andalas. Data were obtained through focus group discussions with informants who had signed an informed consent sheet. The results showed that the perceptions of students who participated in MBKM activities could develop student’s soft skills. Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka program has a positive impact on improving the ability of solve problems, critical thinking, communication, team work, creativity, time management, and leadership. Obstacles that students get when participating in MBKM activities and can hinder the development of soft skills include information discrepancies, difficulty converting credits, lack of socialization to students, unsynchronized technical guidelines, and limited use of language.

Biology learning in Indonesia is still predominantly teacher-centered, limiting students’ opportunities to actively develop critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and other 21st-century competencies. Students often receive information passively, resulting in low engagement and limited ability to apply concepts in real-life contexts. Therefore, innovative learning models are needed to support more meaningful and student-centered learning. This study aims to review the implementation of Project-Based Learning (PjBL) in Biology education and analyze its contribution to the development of students’ 21st-century skills. The study employed a literature review method by analyzing 20 research articles published between 2022 and 2026. Articles were obtained through Google Scholar searches and selected based on relevance to Biology education, focus on PjBL implementation, and open-access availability. Data collection involved identification, screening, selection, and documentation of related studies, while data analysis used a qualitative descriptive approach. The findings indicate that PjBL effectively improves students’ cognitive achievement, conceptual understanding, scientific literacy, creativity, and critical thinking skills. In addition, PjBL enhances collaboration, communication, problem-solving abilities, learning motivation, and life skills through contextual and authentic project activities. Students become more actively involved in investigating real-world problems, designing solutions, and producing meaningful learning outputs. Furthermore, the integration of STEM approaches, digital media, blended learning, and Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT) strengthens the effectiveness of PjBL in Biology learning. Overall, PjBL is highly relevant for supporting the Merdeka Curriculum and improving the quality of Biology education in developing 21st-century competencies.

The digital era demands a fundamental transformation in the role of early childhood educators, shifting from passive technology consumers to active architects of digital literacy. However, the dominance of technocentric views often acts as a substantial psychological and pedagogical barrier for teachers in regional areas. This collaborative community service project aims to reconstruct the paradigm of 50 kindergarten teachers in Bulukumba Regency by integrating "unplugged coding" logic and deep learning into play-based learning. Utilizing a Product-Based Intensive Training method with a "Logic over Laptop" strategy, the program focused on deconstructing technology-related stigmas and reconstructing teachers' ability to transform abstract concepts into safe, concrete media for children. Data analysis revealed a significant shift in teacher paradigms; while the majority were initially in the "less successful" category, 100% of participants reached positive categories (successful and very successful) post-intervention. Statistically, the program's effectiveness was evidenced by a dramatic increase in mean scores from 18.04 to 31.24 (p < 0.05) and an N-Gain score of 0.778, classified as highly effective. Furthermore, the partner satisfaction index reached 4.82 (very satisfied), confirming that the tri-campus collaboration model (STAI Al-Gazali, UNM, and Unismuh) is highly relevant to the implementation of the Merdeka Belajar curriculum. This project concludes that strengthening digital literacy through non-digital algorithmic reasoning effectively dismantles technical barriers for teachers while ensuring the safety of child development in the digital age.

Formal education systems are often trapped in rigid standardization that actually shackles students' creativity and personal uniqueness. This issue raises questions about the extent to which individual freedom is accommodated in modern curricula that tend to be pragmatic. Departing from this issue, this study aims to explore the relevance of Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Romanticism which prioritizes affection and the general will in the context of education. Rousseau argued that the development of science and culture often acts as a chain that restrains humans, thus he proposed the concept of natural education that allows children's instincts to develop freely without damaging cultural intervention. Using qualitative methods based on literature review, this research identified a strong common ground between Rousseau's vision and Indonesia's Freedom to Learn policy. The study reveals that both share a common philosophical foundation: restoring educational sovereignty to institutions and students, allowing them to independently develop their potential, talents, and interests. Therefore, synchronizing Rousseau's ideas with Freedom to Learn serves as a crucial foundation for creating a higher-quality and more humane national education ecosystem.

This study aims to investigate the skill gaps experienced by bachelor’s degree graduates in Indonesia when facing the dual demands of Industry 4.0 and Society 5.0. The method applied in this research is a systematic literature review, synthesizing findings from 21 scientific articles focusing on the dynamics of skill gaps and the effectiveness of higher education interventions in Indonesia. The study findings reveal two main categories of competency gaps. In the context of Industry 4.0, the most significant deficiencies are observed in specific hard skills, particularly data literacy, artificial intelligence proficiency, and automation across various sectors. Meanwhile, within the Society 5.0 dimension, deeper gaps emerge in soft skills and human-centered competencies, including complex problem-solving, emotional intelligence, creativity, and environmentally sustainable skills. These human-centered skill gaps play a critical role in enhancing graduate value as AI technologies increasingly replace routine tasks. Although the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka program shows positive outcomes in improving sustainability skills and digital certification, it has not fully succeeded in driving fundamental transformation of higher education learning outcomes, limiting alignment with sustainability principles and the Society 5.0 approach. It can be concluded that Indonesian higher education faces the challenge of undertaking fundamental curriculum reform to integrate human-centered competencies as a foundation for preparing future human resources.

The Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) program through internship activities provides opportunities for students to be directly involved in the professional world and community service. This study aims to analyze the role of entrepreneurship education and productive business mentoring implemented by KSP CU Bathera Sejahtera Maumere in improving the business capacity of its members. The research employed a descriptive qualitative approach, with data collected through observation, interviews, and documentation during the internship program. The results indicate that entrepreneurship education and productive business mentoring make a positive contribution to enhancing entrepreneurial knowledge, financial management, and business sustainability among cooperative members. Therefore, structured and continuous mentoring programs need to be further developed to strengthen the economic independence of cooperative members.

This final report aimed to analyze the service quality gap in ship agency services in determining customer satisfaction levels at PT Maumere Bahari Express. The study was conducted as part of the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) internship program using a qualitative descriptive approach. Data were collected through interviews with management, employees, and service users (ship crew), direct observation of service processes, and company document review. The analysis was carried out based on the service quality gap model, which includes gaps between customer expectations and management perceptions, management perceptions and service quality specifications, service specifications and service delivery, service delivery and external communication, as well as the gap between expected service and service received by customers.. The results showed that several service gaps still existed in the services, particularly related to administrative speed, clarity of information, service operational standards, as well internal coordination and communication. These gaps affected the level of customer satisfaction, which had not yet been optimal. Therefore, PT Maumere Bahari Express needed to make improvements through strengthening management commitment to service quality, refining standard operating procedures, and enhancini internal and external communication systems in order to improve customer satisfaction sustainably..

Trust among educators constitutes a critical social capital that underpins organizational effectiveness in higher education institutions. This study investigates the impact of trust erosion among educators on the decline in the achievement of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs/IKU) in higher education. The central problem addressed in this research is the weakening of academic collaboration, reduced engagement in the tridharma of higher education, and the emergence of latent conflicts that negatively affect KPI achievement, particularly in lecturer performance, research collaboration, and the implementation of the Merdeka Belajar–Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) policy. This study aims to analyze the relationship between the level of trust among educators and institutional KPI performance, as well as to identify the organizational and social mechanisms underlying this phenomenon. A mixed-methods explanatory design was employed, combining quantitative survey data with in-depth interviews and institutional performance document analysis. The findings reveal a significant negative correlation between trust erosion and KPI achievement. The study concludes that strengthening organizational trust is a strategic prerequisite for sustaining and improving higher education performance.

Traditional snack micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Indonesia face increasing market competition and rapidly changing consumer preferences, particularly among younger consumers seeking innovative and symbolic food experiences. This community engagement study aims to strengthen the profitability and sustainability of traditional snack MSMEs by integrating local flavor innovation with simple business governance practices. Using a participatory action research approach under the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) program in Palangka Raya, this study involved co-creation between students and local entrepreneurs in product development, production standardization, and basic financial management. Qualitative data were collected through participatory observation and stakeholder discussions, while quantitative data were obtained from sales records and simple financial reports. The results demonstrate that local flavor-based innovation, combined with standardized operating procedures and cost control mechanisms, improved product differentiation, operational efficiency, and financial performance. The intervention generated a positive net profit and strengthened the partner’s capacity for independent business management. This study contributes to the literature by positioning traditional food MSMEs as sites of cultural innovation and micro-governance, while supporting Sustainable Development Goals related to inclusive economic growth, cultural preservation, and responsible production.