Change Management in Strengthening the Adaptability of Islamic Educational Institutions

Sahlan Gumadi (Institut Agama Islam Al-Hikmah Lampung, Indonesia)
Feri Riski Dinata (Institut Agama Islam Al Hikmah Lampung, Indonesia)
Muslih Qomarudin (Institut Agama Islam Al Hikmah Lampung, Indonesia)
Ali Kuswadi (Institut Agama Islam Al Hikmah Lampung, Indonesia)
Dwi Sugianik (Institut Agama Islam Al Hikmah Lampung, Indonesia)

Assyfa Journal of Islamic Studies
Vol. 4 No. 2 (2026): Assyfa Journal of Islamic Studies

The increasingly dynamic educational environment requires Islamic educational institutions to develop strong and sustainable adaptive capacities. However, many institutions continue to face resistance to change, limited human resource competencies, weak change communication, and inadequate integration of innovation into organizational culture. This study aims to analyze change management in strengthening the adaptability of Islamic educational institutions and to identify the mechanisms through which organizational change develops into sustainable institutional capacity. The study employed a qualitative approach with a case study design. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, non-participant observations, and document analysis and were analyzed thematically through data condensation, data display, and conclusion drawing and verification. The findings identified four major dimensions: (1) building awareness and strategic direction for change; (2) strengthening human resource capacity and participation; (3) developing innovation and organizational learning; and (4) institutionalizing change as sustainable adaptive capacity. The findings demonstrate that the adaptability of Islamic educational institutions develops through three interconnected mechanisms: adaptation, internalization, and institutionalization. Adaptation enables institutions to recognize and respond to environmental changes; internalization facilitates the acceptance and transformation of organizational knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors; while institutionalization embeds successful changes into organizational systems, routines, and culture. This study contributes to the development of Islamic educational management by positioning change management as a strategic mechanism for building sustainable institutional adaptive capacity. The findings suggest that adaptive Islamic educational institutions are not merely institutions capable of following change, but organizations capable of anticipating, learning from, managing, and institutionalizing change while maintaining their Islamic identity. Keywords: change management; institutional adaptability; Islamic education; organizational learning; innovation.