Decision Support System on Independent Curriculum Learning Models with Artificial Intelligence at Islamic Universities

The design of curricula in Islamic universities frequently encounters difficulties in addressing the evolving needs of students, industry demands and the distinctive integration of Islamic values. Conventional methodologies are inadequate in their capacity to adapt to the evolving needs of the modern educational landscape. Furthermore, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in this domain remains underdeveloped, with many instances overlooking the crucial role of religious principles and institutional characteristics. This study addresses this gap by developing a Decision Support System (DSS) using Mamdani type 1 fuzzy logic, with the objective of assisting in determining an independent curriculum learning model tailored to Islamic higher education. The system incorporates a number of input variables, including student needs, industry requirements, institutional characteristics and data analysis. The output variables include an evaluation of the suitability of the learning model and a recommendation as to the most appropriate model. To illustrate, in situations where student needs are high, industry demands are moderate, institutional characteristics are high, and data analysis is moderate, the recommended model places an emphasis on balancing theoretical knowledge with practical application, while also aligning with Islamic values.  The validation of this AI-based model, utilizing 2023 historical data from five Islamic universities in West Sumatra, yielded an average Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 0.64, thereby demonstrating good predictive accuracy. The integration of AI in this system facilitates data-driven decision-making, thereby enhancing the relevance and adaptability of the curriculum. It has the potential to improve the quality of education, support balanced student learning outcomes, and ensure alignment with Islamic principles, making it a transformative tool for curriculum development in Islamic higher education.