<![CDATA[Purpose of the study: This study aims to conduct a comparative analysis of the implementation of the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) Curriculum and Outcome-Based Education (OBE) in improving the quality of learning for Islamic Religious Education students at Islamic Higher Education Institutions. Methodology: This study used a descriptive quantitative design with a comparative approach. Twenty Islamic Religious Education students from five Islamic higher education institutions in the Special Region of Yogyakarta were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using a five point Likert scale questionnaire validated through expert judgment and analyzed using descriptive statistics, a paired-samples t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation. Main Findings: MBKM (M = 4.07) and OBE (M = 4.10) were both rated high, with no significant difference (p = 0.575), and both correlated significantly with PAI learning quality (M = 4.17; r = 0.840 and 0.667). MBKM scored highest on multidisciplinary competence and student autonomy (4.18) and on the integration of Islamic values (4.11). OBE scored highest on constructive alignment (4.24) and on technology use in learning (4.55). Graduate preparedness reached 4.25, with Islamic character formation at 4.40. Novelty/Originality of this study: The novelty of this study lies in placing MBKM and OBE within a single comparative frame in Islamic Religious Education, a field that earlier comparative work has largely passed over in favor of engineering, medicine, and vocational education. Both curricula are measured against the same learning quality indicators across five Islamic universities.]]>
