Values-Embedded Quality Assurance and Competitive Advantage in Faith-Based Higher Education
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64990/jarsem.v2i1.58Keywords:
Academic quality assurance; Competitive advantage; Nahdlatul Ulama; Higher education; Aswaja values; PPEPP cycleAbstract
This study examines the academic quality assurance model implemented at Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Surabaya (UNUSA) and its impact on the institution's competitive advantage. Using a qualitative case study approach, data were collected through in-depth interviews with university leaders, quality assurance officers, and faculty members, supplemented by document analysis and observation. The research applies Total Quality Management (TQM) theory and Porter's Competitive Advantage framework, integrated with the Islamic values of Ahlussunnah Wal Jama'ah An-Nahdliyah (Aswaja). Findings reveal that UNUSA's quality assurance model operates through three interconnected dimensions: (1) academic quality policy grounded in the institution's vision, mission, and Aswaja values; (2) a systematic PPEPP cycle (Setting, Implementation, Evaluation, Control, and Improvement of Standards) that governs all academic processes; and (3) measurable impacts manifested in attaining 'Unggul' (Excellent) national accreditation from BAN-PT within only ten years of establishment, ranking first among all Nahdlatul Ulama universities in Indonesia, and entry into four international rankings including QS Asia University Rankings 2026. The study concludes that the integration of Islamic ideological values into a structured quality management system constitutes a distinctive and transferable model for faith-based higher education institutions seeking sustainable competitive advantage.
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