Cultivating Social and Environmental Awareness through Islamic Religious Education: Insights into Behavioral Transformation among University Students

Ali Imron (Universitas Muhammadiyah Semarang)
Mamdukh Budiman (Universitas Muhammadiyah Semarang)
Gautam Kumar Jha (Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi)
Rina Priarni (Universitas Darul Ulum Islamic Centre Sudirman)
Safril Ahmadi Sanmas (Universitas Muhammadiyah Semarang)

EDUKASIA: Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan Islam
Vol 20, No 1 (2025): EDUKASIA

The gap between value-based education and its real-world impact on students’ social and environmental engagement remains a pressing issue in higher education. This study examines whether Islamic Religious Education (PAI) effectively enhances students social awareness and environmental responsibility. Employing a quantitative comparative survey, the research involved 214 university students from five Central Java institutions who had completed the PAI course. Results showed statistically significant improvements (p < 0.05) in students’ awareness of social issues (Z = -6.842), environmental cleanliness (Z = -6.188), and involvement in social activities (Z = -2.697) after taking the course. These findings highlight the positive influence of PAI in shaping socio-environmental attitudes and suggest the need to integrate contemporary social and ecological issues into curriculum to maximize its transformative impact.