<![CDATA[Education holds a strategic role in fostering national intelligence while shaping students to become independent, responsible, and competitive individuals. Alongside the development of modern educational paradigms, the cultivation of affective and socio-emotional aspects, particularly emotional intelligence, has become a crucial focus in supporting learning success and learner autonomy. Emotional intelligence, which includes the ability to recognize, understand, and manage one’s own emotions as well as those of others, significantly contributes to enhancing students' motivation, stress management, and social skills. This study employed a literature review method to examine the relationship between emotional intelligence and learning autonomy within the context of formal education. The analysis reveals that emotional intelligence plays a significant role in improving students' independent learning abilities. Dimensions of emotional intelligence such as self-awareness, self-regulation, intrinsic motivation, empathy, and social skills positively influence students’ capacity to manage their learning independently. Learners with higher emotional intelligence tend to cope better with academic stress, maintain motivation, and foster healthy social relationships. Additionally, social environment, family support, and school-based emotional training programs act as supporting factors in achieving optimal learning autonomy. The integration of emotional intelligence enhancement into learning processes is essential, especially in the era of the Merdeka Curriculum, which emphasizes the Pancasila Student Profile and technology-based independent learning.]]>
