Agents Of Social Change Research Articles

Social entrepreneurship has gained increasing prominence in addressing complex societal challenges through innovative, sustainable solutions. However, in Malaysia, the development of the social entrepreneurship sector remains limited, particularly among university students who are often viewed as potential agents of social change. This study examines the psychological and social factors that influence students’ intention to engage in social entrepreneurship, focusing on four key antecedents: empathy, moral obligation, self-efficacy, and social support. Grounded in the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) and the Entrepreneurial Event Model (EEM), the research employs a quantitative approach using a structured questionnaire distributed among Malaysian university students. Data were collected from 193 respondents and analysed using SPSS, applying correlation and regression techniques to test the proposed relationships. The findings demonstrate that all four constructs significantly influence Social Entrepreneurial Intention (SEI), with self-efficacy emerging as the most prominent predictor. The study contributes theoretically by validating an integrated cognitive–affective model of SEI and expanding its applicability within the context of Malaysian higher education. Practically, the results provide valuable insights for educators, institutional leaders, and policymakers to design targeted interventions that enhance students’ readiness to pursue social entrepreneurship. By identifying key motivational drivers, this study supports efforts to cultivate a new generation of socially conscious entrepreneurs equipped to drive inclusive and sustainable development.

This study examines the dynamics of multiethnic transmigration communities and religious harmony in Simpang Raya District, Banggai Regency, Indonesia. It explores the role of diverse ethnic and religious leaders in promoting sustainable religious moderation in these areas, employing a descriptive qualitative method with 35 informants selected through purposive sampling. This research reveals that leaders from diverse backgrounds promote religious moderation through various channels, including places of worship, educational institutions, cultural events, government services, and community socialization. The practice of religious moderation is fostered through approaches that emphasize participation, gender equality, partnership, and self-reliance. Educational institutions play a crucial role as strategic agents of social change, educating the younger generation about the values of religious moderation. In addition, the influence and control that religious leaders have in facilitating dialogue are crucial to promoting inclusive religious moderation. This research contributes to demographic and social studies by providing an overview and analysis of how to build diversity and peace through religious moderation in multiethnic regions.

This research is driven by the need to understand the role of Islamic education as a tool for social transformation within the complex context of urban society, particularly in Bekasi City. KH Muhammad Muhajirin Amsar is recognized as a figure who integrates Islamic education and social reform to cultivate a more critical and inclusive community awareness. The study aims to reveal the methods and strategies employed by KH Muhammad Muhajirin Amsar in developing progressive Islamic education that acts as an agent of social change. This study employs a literature review and qualitative analysis of documents, literature, and secondary sources related to Islamic educational leadership and social reform. Results indicate that KH Muhammad Muhajirin Amsar succeeded in creating an adaptive pesantren-based Islamic education model that meets modern demands and strengthens social awareness and solidarity through a dialogical and inclusive approach. The study confirms that integrating Islamic education with social reform serves as an effective instrument in fostering community social awareness, especially in urban settings such as Bekasi.This research contributes significantly to understanding the role of local figures in merging religious values with contemporary social dynamics, and paves the way for further studies on the relationship between Islamic education and social reform.

This study aims to explore the efforts of students from the Community Service Program (KKN) at the State Islamic University of North Sumatra (UINSU) in fostering religious moderation and tolerance in Besadi Village through the Creative Arts Festival (Gebyar Kreasi dan Seni). Religious moderation is seen as a crucial foundation for building a harmonious community amidst religious and cultural diversity. KKN students act as agents of social change, introducing the values ​​of religious moderation through creative activities such as art performances, cultural competitions, and interfaith dialogues, presented in an educational and inclusive manner. This study used a qualitative approach with descriptive methods, collecting data through interviews, participant observation, and documentation. The results indicate that the Creative Arts Festival (Gebyar Kreasi dan Seni) successfully raised awareness among the Besadi Village community about the importance of religious moderation and strengthened tolerance among residents. This activity also served as an effective means of strengthening social ties between residents through diverse artistic and cultural expressions. However, challenges such as differing views and a lack of community participation still require attention. This research is expected to serve as a reference in developing diverse moderation programs based on arts and cultural activities in rural areas.

Purpose – This study maps current evidence on religious moderation in Islamic Education in Indonesia to assess the effectiveness of policy, curriculum, pedagogy, and the institutional ecosystem—framed by Pancasila—as a counter-radicalization strategy and a shaper of inclusive character. Design/methods/approach – Systematic Literature Review (SLR) grounded in Kitchenham & Charters. Scopus search (February 12, 2025) using TITLE-ABS-KEY("religious" AND "moderation"), period 2018–2025, document type article. 754 articles found; 127 filtered as relevant; 72 fully reviewed; 2 excluded (review-based); 70 analyzed through qualitative content analysis (mechanical and interpretive stages) following the PRISMA scheme. Findings – Implementation of moderation is effective when wasathiyah values are integrated across subjects and practiced through dialogic methods (problem solving, inquiry, discussion), an integrative curriculum, and educator involvement. As a counter-radicalization strategy, effectiveness is supported by firm campus policies framed by Pancasila, the strengthening of national values (tawassuth, tawazun, i‘tidal, al-wathaniyah), and the role of madrasahs and universities as agents of social change. Key factors include school leadership, an inclusive curriculum, interfaith dialogue, and directed use of technology (Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge [TPACK]). These findings sequentially answer RQ1–RQ4 (curriculum implementation; counter-radicalization strategies; contributions of empirical approaches; the role of higher education). Research implications – Recommendations include the standardization of moderation competencies in the Islamic Religious Education (PAI)/higher-education curriculum; the design of dialogic pedagogy grounded in experiential learning and inclusive social projects; capacity building for educators and digital literacy (TPACK); and institutional policies that synergize mentoring, intra/extracurricular activities, anti-radicalization governance, and curation of the educational digital ecosystem.

Bullying is one of the issues that frequently occurs in elementary school environments and has serious impacts on children’s psychological, social, and academic development. Efforts to prevent and address bullying are essential through education involving students, teachers, and the surrounding community. This study aims to describe the role of Community Service Program (Kuliah Kerja Nyata, KKN) students in providing anti-bullying education at UPT SDN 033915 Pasi. The research employed a descriptive qualitative method with a case study approach. Data were obtained through observation, simple interviews, and documentation of the anti-bullying seminar activities conducted by KKN students at the school. The results indicate that KKN students act as educators by explaining the definition, forms, and impacts of bullying; as facilitators by creating interactive discussion spaces with students; and as motivators encouraging students to respect one another and reject bullying behavior. Educational strategies were implemented through lectures, discussions, Q&A sessions, and the use of simple visual media. Students’ responses were very positive, demonstrated by their enthusiasm during activities and increased understanding of the dangers of bullying. The study concludes that KKN students play an important role in preventing bullying in elementary schools, while also serving as a tangible contribution of students as agents of social change.

This panel will explore the intersection of Critical Race Theory and Library and Information Science unveiling the challenges, opportunities, and actionable steps for integrating CRT into library practices, education, and services. Emerging from legal studies in the 1970s, CRT has is considered the key framework for addressing systemic racism and understanding the role of power and race in shaping societal structures. In this session, panelists will discuss how CRT can be used to transform library practices and offer solutions for the evolving challenges faced by libraries and LIS educators. Panelists will explain how CRT’s core ideas can offer new perspectives on issues of access, representation, and equity within libraries helping attendees understand why CRT is crucial in reshaping how libraries address race and how library systems can either perpetuate or challenge racial inequalities. In addition, panelists will examine the tension between the field’s traditional commitment to neutrality and CRT’s call for activism and social justice unveiling how these competing values can sometimes create friction, especially when it comes to rethinking established practices like collection development, access to resources, and library services. Panelists will engage in a candid conversation centered on the difficulties of shifting these practices in ways that more actively promote racial justice and inclusivity. Another topic will be the gap in LIS education regarding CRT. Drawing from studies that reveal LIS students often receive little to no exposure to CRT during their graduate programs, the panel will highlight the urgent need for educational reform. Panelists will advocate for curricula that more comprehensively integrate CRT, preparing future librarians to understand and confront issues of racial power dynamics and inequities in their professional work. They will discuss the ways in which a CRT-infused education can equip future library leaders with the tools they need to challenge and dismantle systemic racism in their practices. Panelists will offer practical ways that CRT can be applied in libraries and real-world examples of how library services and collections can be reimagined through the lens of CRT. Noting the importance of diversifying collections, ensuring that libraries offer equitable access to resources, and creating inclusive spaces where all community members feel represented and heard. By focusing on action-oriented solutions to illustrate how libraries can move beyond theory and engage in concrete efforts to address racial inequities. A key theme of the panel will be the role of librarians as agents of social change. Finally, the panel will look ahead to the future of CRT in LIS with strategies for ensuring that CRT principles continue to be integrated into LIS practices and education in the long term. This will include ideas for advocating for policy changes within libraries, promoting diversity and inclusion within LIS education, and fostering an ongoing commitment to racial justice in library services and operations. Panelists will leave attendees with actionable steps they can take to incorporate CRT into their own professional practices and educational settings.

The Community Service Program (Kuliah Kerja Nyata / KKN) is one of the main pillars of higher education’s Tri Dharma that emphasizes direct community engagement. The 5th KKN program of Muhammadiyah University of Mamuju was conducted in Lakahang Village, Tabulahan District, Mamasa Regency, focusing on three strategic issues: stunting prevention, drug abuse prevention, and environmental awareness campaigns. The primary objective was to provide practical solutions to health, social, and environmental problems faced by the community, while simultaneously enhancing students’ social sensitivity and problem-solving skills. The program was implemented through participatory, educational, and collaborative approaches involving field observation, health counseling, awareness campaigns, practical demonstrations, community clean-up activities, and mentoring. The results showed an increase in mothers’ knowledge of balanced nutrition and child care during the first 1,000 days of life, the establishment of the “Lakahang Youth Anti-Drug Community” as a platform for youth empowerment, and greater public awareness of environmental cleanliness through the creation of simple waste bins and routine “Friday Clean-Up” activities. These findings confirm that KKN-based community service can make a tangible contribution to improving community well-being, fostering collective awareness, and strengthening the role of students as agents of social change.

Tangerang Regency faces food security challenges due to high poverty rates and nutritional insecurity, particularly in rural areas such as Sodong Village, a pilot site for the Food Independent Village Program. Despite its considerable agricultural potential, the village encounters obstacles including limited resources, low community participation, and suboptimal communication strategies in the empowerment of Women Farmers Groups (Kelompok Wanita Tani or KWT in Bahasa Indonesia). This study aims to analyze the collaborative governance model in KWT empowerment, evaluate its impact on food security and village socio-economic welfare, and identify development communication strategies that can strengthen the participation and technical capacity of KWT members. A qualitative approach with a case study design was employed, with data collection techniques including in-depth interviews, participant observation, and document analysis. The study in Sodong Village, Tangerang Regency, shows that cross-actor involvement—including the village government, technical agencies, KWT, the community, and the private sector—plays a crucial role in shaping participatory and inclusive governance in the implementation of the Food Independent Village Program. In this context, KWT has transformed into an agent of social change, contributing to increased consumption of nutritious food, higher household income, and strengthened women's roles in local decision-making processes. Identified development communication strategies include interpersonal, digital, institutional, educational, and multi-sectoral communication, which collectively create a dialogical and collaborative ecosystem to foster active participation and enhance the technical capacity of KWT members.

In non-western hierarchically structured cultures, older women, or grandmothers, play a central role especially in the care and socialization of women and girls. In the Global South, programs supporting girls’ rights and development consistently ignore the grandmother resource. In Senegal, the assets-based, grandmother-inclusive, Girls’ Holistic Development (GHD) program addresses major issues regarding girls’ education, child marriage, teen pregnancy and female genital mutilation. GHD empowers grandmother to support girls. A meta-synthesis of 14 earlier studies on GHD identified the impact of grandmother-inclusion on grandmothers themselves. Thematic analysis revealed positive changes in: community recognition of grandmothers’ role with girls; grandmothers’ knowledge on GHD; grandmothers’ increased influence in family decision-making; and grandmothers’ empowerment to promote community-wide change in social norms affecting adolescent girls. Based on the research data, a pathway was constructed linking grandmother-inclusion and empowerment to collective action by grandmothers to change social norms affecting girls. Empirical results of the GHD program supports the conclusion that grandmother-inclusion, can build their collective agency to actively promote change supporting girls. These results suggest that programs supporting girls’ development should adopt grandmother-inclusive strategies.

Underprivileged women in Indonesia face various challenges in developing their businesses, including limited access to education, technology, markets, and financial services. The mentoring program initiated by Bank Syariah seeks to address these challenges by positioning facilitators as strategic partners. In this context, the primary subjects of empowerment are underprivileged women striving to enhance their entrepreneurial capacity, while facilitators act as agents of change who provide guidance, motivation, and serve as bridges to knowledge and technology. The community service method employed is Participatory Action Research (PAR), with activities conducted in Boyolali Regency, Central Java. This method emphasizes the active involvement of participants from the stages of problem identification, planning, and implementation to evaluation. Mentoring activities were carried out through interviews, participatory observation, entrepreneurship workshops, hands-on practice, and joint reflection sessions. This participatory approach ensures that the real needs of underprivileged women form the foundation for designing materials, methods, and empowerment strategies. The results of the program indicate that the mentoring successfully improved participants’ entrepreneurial skills, particularly in financial management, digital promotion, and business identity development. Indicators of success were also reflected in changes in participants’ attitudes and motivation to manage their businesses independently, increased confidence in marketing products, and greater business visibility through social media. The role of facilitators, who not only delivered materials but also served as motivators, companions, and social change agents, proved to accelerate this transformation. Thus, effective mentoring requires facilitators to master public communication skills, time management, and digital technology to ensure the sustainability of underprivileged women’s business independence.

ABSTRACT This study explores the transformative potential of virtual influencers within metaverse environments as agents of social change and well-being in advertising. Employing a qualitative, multi-method approach – including case study analysis, semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and institutional analysis – this research examines how virtual influencers innovate advertising practices and advance inclusivity, sustainability, and mental health advocacy. Findings reveal that virtual influencers enable hyper-personalised, cross-platform, and gamified campaigns that foster engagement and representation among diverse audiences. However, challenges related to transparency, algorithmic bias, authenticity, and accessibility persist. The study underscores the need for ethical guidelines and continued methodological rigour to ensure that virtual influencers in the metaverse fulfil their promise as tools for transformative advertising and societal well-being.

<strong><em><span>Guidance And Training To Become A Khatib In Developing The Ability To Compile And Delivery Sermons In Jambu District, Semarang Regency.</span></em></strong><em><span> This community service activity aims to improve the ability of preachers to compose and deliver structured, relevant, and communicative sermons in Jambu District, Semarang Regency. The method used is the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) approach, which focuses on identifying and utilizing local assets such as religious leaders, mosque networks, and da'wah traditions. The activity was carried out through five stages: Discovery, Dream, Design, Define, and Destiny, involving active community participation. The results showed significant improvements in the structure of sermons, the relevance of themes to social issues, and the public communication skills of participants. The implication of this activity is the formation of a local preacher community capable of strengthening the function of mosques as centers for community development and agents of social change. Recommendations from this activity include the need for further mentoring, the development of contextual training modules, and institutional support from the government and religious institutions for program replication in other areas. The ABCD approach has proven effective in building a sense of ownership and sustainability of the community-based preacher training program.</span></em>

The diversity of Indonesian society in terms of religion, culture, ethnicity, and language demands an education system that is able to foster an inclusive, tolerant, and fair attitude in differences. Islamic Religious Education (PAI) has a strategic role in forming characters that are not only religious, but also able to live side by side harmoniously in society. The purpose of this study is to describe the integration of Islamic religious education with pluralism and multiculturalism and the role of Islamic religious education as an agent of positive change. This study uses a descriptive qualitative approach with a library research method analyzing various libraries and academic sources related to the integration of Islamic religious education (PAI) with pluralism and multiculturalism. Data sources in this study consist of secondary data in the form of books and journal articles that are relevant to the research and data analysis techniques using a qualitative approach. The results of the study indicate that the integration of Islamic religious education (PAI) with pluralism and multiculturalism through inclusive learning, interfaith dialogue, development of multicultural skills, teaching universal values, awareness of Human Rights, in-depth educator training is very important in forming an attitude of mutual respect, tolerance and appreciation of differences, so as to reduce exclusive, radical, and intolerant attitudes. The role of Islamic Religious Education as an agent of positive change includes the formation of individual character, Islamic Religious Education as an agent of social change, the role of Islamic Religious Education institutions. The conclusion of this writing is that the integration of Islamic Religious Education with pluralism and multiculturalism must be carried out holistically, wisely, and contextually to be relevant to the conditions of a diverse Indonesian society, and to be able to form a future generation that is tolerant and lives side by side harmoniously.

[Editors’ abstract, 2025: In this article, Florence Howe describes the operation, purpose, and élan of a significant venture into the politics of education: the Mississippi Freedom Schools, which were organized as alternative spaces of learning in the segregated South to empower students to become active agents for social change. Drawing on her experiences teaching at a Freedom School in Jackson, Mississippi, in the summer of 1964, Howe offers rich insights into pedagogical practices and educational experiences that reject authoritarian teaching and instead seek to elevate students’ awareness of self and society. Through democratic, discussion-based learning centered on the Freedom Schools’ Citizenship Curriculum, students challenge the myths of society and engage in action to address the social realities of their time.]

ABSTRACT Against the backdrop of political polarization and societal fragmentation, liberal democracy, more than ever, rests on social cohesion. Civil-society organizations (CSOs) are pivotal in fostering this cohesion by building social capital and serving as catalysts of social change. However, civil society is also a space of ambivalence where conflicting values and priorities are negotiated and, at times, contested. Integrating insights from social psychology, political sociology, and communication scholarship, this study seeks to better understand the extent and ways in which values are articulated in the external communication of CSOs, and how these values are linked to their public claims of fostering social cohesion. Combining organizational survey data of nearly 800 CSOs in Germany with a content analysis of their websites, this study finds clear tendencies toward communitarian (vs. individualistic), postmaterialist (vs. materialist), and secular-rational (vs. traditional) values in the CSOs’ self-portrayals. CSOs that view themselves as agents of social change and, to some degree, politically active CSOs tend to invoke values more often, while those focused on sports/leisure and cultural activities were least likely to do so. Finally, for articulating organizational visions of socially cohesive communities, it does not matter much which value orientations in particular are invoked by CSOs as long as values are present in their external communication.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought structural and functional changes in various aspects of life, including student organizations. This research examines the transformation of the Medan Branch of the Islamic Student Association (HMI) in responding to the challenges of the new normal era after the COVID-19 pandemic. The main focus of the study includes the internal dynamics of the organization, social influence on the campus environment and society, as well as the political role of HMI in the local context. This research uses a qualitative approach with a case study method. Data collection techniques involve in-depth interviews, participatory observation, and document analysis. The results show that HMI Medan Branch is able to adapt to the pandemic situation through digitalization of organizational activities, strengthening regeneration, and developing a political education model. Scientific discussion activities and leadership training are conducted online, while social relations are maintained through social media and other digital platforms. HMI also plays a significant role in educating students on post-pandemic social and political issues, while maintaining its ideological relevance in local dynamics. The findings provide a theoretical contribution in understanding student organizations as agents of social change in times of crisis. Practically, the results of this study can be a strategic reference for similar organizations in developing adaptation strategies, strengthening socio-political roles, and innovating regeneration in accordance with the needs of the times. Thus, this article offers a comprehensive picture of the resilience and transformation of student organizations in the face of major post-pandemic changes.

Students are an "elitist" component at the forefront of a nation in achieving progress in various fields of development. It cannot be denied that the history of nations in the world has never emphasized the role of students in building and maintaining human civilization (Mustika Cahyaning Pertiwi, et al, 2014: 229). As successors and holders of the baton of national leadership in the future and future managers of national development, students must prepare themselves as early as possible to carry out two large and heavy tasks at once, namely as pioneers of social change (agents of social change) and pioneers of community supervision (agents). of social control) by achieving the highest academic and non-academic achievements. Actively participating in student organizations on campus is an important and strategic alternative way for students to train and develop their full potential in scientific ways. This research was conducted using a qualitative research approach. Qualitative research is research aimed at describing and analyzing phenomena, events, activities, social, attitudes, beliefs, perceptions, thoughts of people individually and in groups.

Community service is one of the main pillars of the Tri Dharma of Higher Education, which plays a strategic role in connecting theoretical knowledge with its real-life application in society. Through these activities, universities not only act as centers for scientific development but also as agents of social change that encourage improvements in the quality of life of the community. This community service article discusses legal counseling activities focused on preventing domestic violence (KDRT), which were carried out in Sidokumpul Village, Guntur District, Demak Regency. This activity aims to increase residents' understanding and legal awareness regarding rights and obligations within the family, as well as providing knowledge about legal procedures that can be taken in the event of domestic violence. The implementation method of the activity included interactive presentations that combined theory with case examples, group discussions to explore problems faced by residents, and the collection and analysis of supporting data regarding the level of legal understanding before and after the activity. This approach allows participants to be actively involved and gain insights relevant to their conditions. The results of the activity show a significant increase in community understanding regarding domestic violence. In addition, an initiative emerged from residents to form a "Legally Aware Family" group as a forum for education and advocacy at the village level. This demonstrates that legal counseling can foster critical awareness and encourage active community participation in preventing domestic violence. This article recommends the need for ongoing, regular legal counseling programs to foster a more legally aware community capable of protecting its rights and creating a harmonious family environment free from violence.

This study aimed to examine violence against women and the significance of its prevention in realizing moral and gender-civilized behavior. The phenomenon of exploitation and violence against women is a sign that the social system is patterned in the form of gender inequality. This pattern has been observed to be rooted in patriarchal cultural doctrines and religious understanding in the form of gender-biased theology. Based on the stated theology, spaces where women carry out activities become vulnerable to unfriendly treatment, harassment of dignity and status, as well as feudalistic treatment from men. The outlined incidents have been found to often occur in educational and social environments. The issue becomes even more distressing when violence against women occurs in educational environments with a strong and established religious basis. Education is a fundamental aspect in situations where women's existence is constantly made the object of violence. Therefore, the aspect needs to be implemented with an effective strengthening strategy that emphasizes the transfer of gender-based civility values. The main objective of this study is to raise awareness of the importance of (1) equality and respect for gender differences, (2) building critical awareness of gender injustice that still occurs systematically, (3) creating a civilized educational environment ecosystem, as well as (4) eroding patriarchal cultural perspective and gender-biased religious belief theology. Within the environment of this form of educational system, students become invariably motivated to act as agents of social change who can reject all forms of violence and discrimination against women. In order to achieve the stated objectives, a library study method was adopted by reviewing various relevant literature and theories to examine the concept of gender-based civility education as a strategic alternative to prevent violence against women. By instilling civility values from gender perspective, education is expected to be able to create a more unbiased, equal, inclusive, and civilized society.