Local Wisdom as a Moral Ecology: Rethinking Character Education in Indonesia’s Cultural and Global Contexts

Achmad Ruslan Afendi; Umil Muhsinin; Hernawati W Retno Wiratih

doi:10.37899/journallaedusci.v6i4.2607

Achmad Ruslan Afendi Universitas Islam Negeri Sultan Aji Muhammad Idris Samarinda, Indonesia
Umil Muhsinin Universitas Islam Negeri Sulthan Thaha Saifuddin Jambi, Jambi, Indonesia
Hernawati W Retno Wiratih Universitas Presiden, Indonesia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37899/journallaedusci.v6i4.2607

Keywords: Local Wisdom, Character Education, Integrity, Globalization, Cultural Values

Abstract

This study aims to examine how the values of local wisdom can be integrated in character education to form a generation with integrity, especially in the midst of the increasingly strong influence of globalization. This research also seeks to explore the relevance of local wisdom values in the context of education in Indonesia, and how it can support the formation of students' character. This study uses a qualitative approach with the type of literature study research (library research). Data was collected through a literature review of various relevant scientific journals, books, and articles. This study examines works that discuss character education, local wisdom, and the impact of globalization on education, as well as identify integration models that can be applied in the character education curriculum in Indonesia. The results of the study show that local wisdom values such as mutual cooperation, discipline, and honesty can be integrated in character education to strengthen student morale. This integration helps students understand and appreciate their culture, as well as build integrity. Key challenges include the influence of globalization and the lack of educators' understanding of local wisdom in the existing educational curriculum. This study introduces a new model to integrate local wisdom in character education, which can be applied in various schools in Indonesia. This research also contributes to the development of a character education curriculum based on local culture, as well as offers new insights to align education with traditional values that are relevant in the era of globalization.

References

Abdullah, I., Hudayana, B., Kutanegara, P. M., & Indiyanto, A. (2019). Beyond school reach: Character education in three schools in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Journal of Educational and Social Research, 9(3).

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101.

Bretag, T., & Mahmud, S. (2015). A conceptual framework for implementing exemplary academic integrity policy in Australian higher education. In Handbook of academic integrity (pp. 1–14). Springer.

Chalkiadaki, A. (2018). A systematic literature review of 21st century skills and competencies in primary education. International Journal of Instruction, 11(3), 1–16.

Chowdhury, M. (2018). Emphasizing morals, values, ethics, and character education in science education and science teaching. MOJES: Malaysian Online Journal of Educational Sciences, 4(2), 1–16.

Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2017). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage publications.

Cunningham, J. A., Menter, M., & Young, C. (2017). A review of qualitative case methods trends and themes used in technology transfer research. The Journal of Technology Transfer, 42, 923–956.

Drake, C. (2019). National integration in Indonesia: Patterns and policies. University of Hawaii Press.

Ferguson, T., Roofe, C., & Cook, L. D. (2021). Teachers’ perspectives on sustainable development: the implications for education for sustainable development. Environmental Education Research, 27(9), 1343–1359.

Gunawan, H. (2022). Pendidikan karakter: Konsep dan implementasi (Vol. 1, Issue 1). Cv. Alfabeta.

Haq, E. A., Wasliman, I., Sauri, R. S., Fatkhullah, F. K., & Khori, A. (2022). Management of Character Education Based on Local Wisdom. Nidhomul Haq: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 7(1), 73–91.

Harmadi, M. B. R., Adiguna, A. J., Putri, D. C. S., Banuati, N., Pambudi, A. L., & Broto, L. S. W. (2022). Moral education and social attitudes of the young generation: Challenges for Indonesia and the international community. Jurnal Panjar: Pengabdian Bidang Pembelajaran, 4(2), 173–222.

Hasanah, I., Hefniy, H., & Zaini, A. W. (2023). Strengthening brand identity: Embracing local wisdom through character education management. Indonesian Journal of Education and Social Studies, 2(2), 83–94.

Hermansyah, W., & Gunawan, H. (2021). Nilai-Nilai Pendidikan Karakter yang Terkandung Dalam Khazanah Leksikon Istana Raja Sumbawa (Dalam Loka) di Kabupaten Sumbawa: Menemukan Model Baru Penguatan Karakter Berbasis Kearifan Lokal. Jurnal Ilmu Sosial Dan Pendidikan (JISIP), 5(4), 1544–1552.

Hidayati, N. A., Waluyo, H. J., & Winarni, R. (2020). Exploring the Implementation of Local Wisdom-Based Character Education among Indonesian Higher Education Students. International Journal of Instruction, 13(2), 179–198.

Hikmawati, H., Suma, K., & Subagia, I. W. (2021). Problem Analysis of Science Learning based on local wisdom: causes and solutions. Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA, 7(SpecialIssue), 46–55.

Iksal, I., Hayani, R. A., & Aslan, A. (2024). Strengthening character education as a response to the challenges of the times. Indonesian Journal of Education (INJOE), 4(3), 761–774.

Iskandar, D., & Hamdani, A. R. (2017). Increasing the value of mutual cooperation and students’ conceptual understanding on cooperative learning model through the performing art of Gotong Sisingaan. SOSIOHUMANIKA, 10(2), 223–244.

Layli, F., Shidiq, G. A., & Qomariah, N. (2023). Local Wisdom-Based Character Education for Facing Globalization Strategic Issues in The Digital Era in Primary School Student. IJCAR: Indonesian Journal of Classroom Action Research, 1(1), 12–17.

Martoredjo, N. T., Benny, & Kusumajati, D. A. (2022). Increasing environmental awareness in facing water scarcity problems through education based on local wisdom values. International Conference on Energy Engineering and Environmental Engineering, 177–185.

Muchtar, F. Y., & Bundu, P. (2024). The Effectiveness of the Tudang Sipulung Integrated Project-based Learning Model to Improve the Character of Mutual Cooperation at the Elementary School Level. Asian Journal of Education and Social Studies, 50(5), 163–169.

Mulyana, D. (2024). National Character, Local Wisdom, and Citizenship Education: Building National Identity Through Education. Journal Arbitrase: Economy, Management and Accounting, 2(02), 87–93.

Pacheco, E.-M. (2020). Culture learning theory and globalization: Reconceptualizing culture shock for modern cross-cultural sojourners. New Ideas in Psychology, 58.

Rodliyah, R. S., Imperiani, E. D. A., & Amalia, L. L. (2014). INDONESIAN TERTIARY STUDENTS’ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE USE OF LOCAL CULTURE VS TARGET CULTURE READING MATERIALS IN ENGLISH READING CLASS. Jurnal Pendidikan Bahasa Dan Sastra, 14(1), 109–120.

Rouzi, K. S., Badriah, L., Ardiyaningrum, M., Afifah, N., Sukati, S., Maksum, K., & Patoni, J. (2025). Local Wisdom Contribution To Strengthening Characters In Islamic Education Context In The New Normal. Proceedings of the 1st Alma Ata International Conference on Education (AAICE 2023), 920, 158.

Sakti, S. A., Endraswara, S., & Rohman, A. (2024). Integrating local cultural values into early childhood education to promote character building. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 23(7), 84–101.

Suastra, I. W. (2010). Model pembelajaran sains berbasis budaya lokal untuk mengembangkan kompetensi dasar sains dan nilai kearifan lokal di SMP. Jurnal Pendidikan Dan Pengajaran, 43(2), 8–16.

Sumartias, S., Unde, A. A., Wibisana, I. P., & Nugraha, A. R. (2020). The importance of local wisdom in building national character in the industrial age 4.0. 3rd International Conference on Learning Innovation and Quality Education (ICLIQE 2019), 1305–1312.

Susilo, M. J., Dewantoro, M. H., & Yuningsih, Y. (2022). Character education trend in Indonesia. Journal of Education and Learning (EduLearn), 16(2), 180–188.

Syahruddin, S., & Haris, U. (2025). Globalization and Local Cultural Identity in Merauke. 1st Joint International Conference on Social and Political Sciences: Challenges and Opportunities in the Future (JICSPS 2023), 271–279.

Tohri, A., Rasyad, A., Sururuddin, M., & Istiqlal, L. M. (2022). The Urgency of Sasak Local Wisdom-Based Character Education for Elementary School in East Lombok, Indonesia. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education, 11(1), 333–344.

Yusuf, R., Arifin, A. M., Octaviana, U., Abbas, S., Syawal, J., & Nurbaya, N. (2024). Integrating Local Wisdom in Character Education: A Collaborative Model for Teachers, Parents, and Communities. AL-ISHLAH: Jurnal Pendidikan, 16(3), 4226–4238.

Suharyanto, A. (2024). Preserving local culture in the era of globalization: Balancing modernity and cultural identity. Traektoriâ Nauki= Path of Science, 10(3), 5001-5005.

Alauddin, M. B., Fitri, D., & Wenando, F. A. (2025). Tradition to Technology: The Transformation of Indonesian Culture in the Social Media Era. Asian Journal of Media and Culture, 1(1), 1-21. https://doi.org/10.63919/ajmc.v1i1.16

Luthfi, A. (2024). CHARACTER EDUCATION THROUGH INTEGRATION OF LOCAL AND GLOBAL VALUES. Tahdzib Al-Akhlaq: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 7(2), 252-261.

Asror, M., Zainiyati, H. S., & Suryani, S. (2024). The" Gusjigang" Model for Strengthening Local Wisdom-Based Character Education in Digital Era. Journal of Education and Learning (EduLearn), 18(4), 1125-1133.

Hidayat, M. W., & Janan, M. (2023). Enhancing moral integrity: Islamic education's role in fostering superior character within Islamic boarding school management. Managere: Indonesian Journal of Educational Management, 5(2), 155-164. https://doi.org/10.52627/managere.v5i2.334

Sanjani, M. A. F. (2024). The impact of school principals on graduate quality through character education initiatives. Journal of Educational Management Research, 3(1), 30-46. https://doi.org/10.61987/jemr.v3i1.347

Tohri, A., Rasyad, A., Sururuddin, M., & Istiqlal, L. M. (2022). The Urgency of Sasak Local Wisdom-Based Character Education for Elementary School in East Lombok, Indonesia. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education, 11(1), 333-344.

Alhamuddin, A., Murniati, A., Ismail, M. S., & Pamungkas, I. (2025). Contextualizing Luqman's Wisdom in Qur'anic Character Education within the Indonesian Curriculum. Indonesian Journal of Islamic Education Studies (IJIES), 8(1), 17-38. https://doi.org/10.33367/ijies.v8i1.7206

Mulyana, D. (2024). National Character, Local Wisdom, and Citizenship Education: Building National Identity Through Education. Journal Arbitrase: Economy, Management and Accounting, 2(02), 87-93. https://doi.org/10.58471/arbitrase.v2i02.118

Rafsanjani, T. A. (2025). The Impact of Local Wisdom-Based Character Education on Student Behavior in SD Pusaka Deliserdang. JELIM: Journal of Education, Language, Social and Management, 3(1), 25-34.