The Relevance of Character Education in Ihya' Ulumuddin to Overcome the Academic Integrity Crisis of Generation Z
Abstract
The phenomenon of the academic integrity crisis among Generation Z in today’s digital age is marked by the prevalence of plagiarism, research data fabrication, and ghost publishing. This situation is further complicated by rapid technological advancements, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality (AR), and Virtual Reality (VR). Various studies have highlighted the urgency and relevance of leveraging technology to address academic misconduct. Nevertheless, some of these studies remain limited to normative aspects alone, and no research has yet been found that specifically integrates a spiritual approach as a mechanism for fostering academic integrity. Therefore, this study aims to examine, synthesize, and analyze the relevance of the concept of character education in the book *Ihya’ Ulumuddin* by Imam Al-Ghazali as a solution to the current academic integrity crisis among Generation Z. This study falls under the category of library research using a content analysis model. The research findings indicate that the character values in *Ihya’ Ulumuddin*, such as trustworthiness, responsibility, religiosity, and independence, are not merely normative but possess a functional relationship through the internalization of Sufi values (riyadhah, mujahadah al-nafs, and tazkiyah al-nafs), which contribute to the development of self-regulation and moral awareness. These two aspects serve as the primary foundation for building academic integrity, particularly in addressing the challenges of digital technology use. This study offers a novel approach by integrating the concept of Sufi-based character education with modern psychological approaches within an operational conceptual framework. Meanwhile, practically, these findings contribute to the development of contextual curricula and learning strategies by emphasizing the cultivation of academic integrity through the systematic internalization of spiritual values.
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.33096/eljour.v7i2.1578
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