<![CDATA[Strengthening the academic capacity of students in Islamic higher education institutions is a strategic agenda for developing superior human resources and establishing a scientific culture that is responsive to social challenges. Scholarship programs play a crucial role in increasing access to education, developing competencies, and fostering academic character grounded in Qur’anic values. This study examines the Smart Light Generation Scholarship Program at the State Islamic University of North Sumatra through the perspective of Surah al-Mujādilah verse 11 and Surah al-Tawbah verse 122, which emphasize the virtue of knowledge, the elevation of the status of knowledgeable people, the deepening of knowledge, and the social responsibility of science. The study’s objectives include an analysis of the normative foundation, the suitability of the program design, the dynamics of strengthening students’ academic capacity, and the development of an academic culture grounded in Qur’anic values. A qualitative approach with a case study design and thematic interpretation analysis (mawḍūʻī) was employed, using in-depth interviews, observations, and document studies. Data analysis was conducted through data reduction, data presentation, conclusion, and source triangulation. The results show that Surah al-Mujādilah verse 11 and Surah al-Tawbah verse 122 provide a solid normative foundation for strengthening academic capacity; the design of the Smart Light Generation Scholarship Program aligns with the orientation of scientific development; the program implementation increases learning motivation, academic productivity, participation in scientific forums, leadership skills, and academic networks; and encourages the formation of an academic culture that emphasizes scientific social responsibility. These findings have implications for the development of scholarship policies in Islamic universities that are oriented towards strengthening academic capacity and internalizing Qur’anic values.]]>
