Optimalisasi Kompetensi Dosen Melalui Pendidikan Agama Islam untuk Mencapai Perguruan Tinggi yang Bermutu

The transformation of higher education, marked by curriculum changes, digitalization of learning, and demands for quality improvement, places lecturers as strategic actors in realizing superior higher education institutions. However, the development of lecturer competencies still faces various challenges, such as high administrative burdens, a low research culture, limited ongoing training, suboptimal digital literacy, and the lack of internalization of Islamic Religious Education values ​​in the development of lecturer professionalism. This study aims to analyze the actual condition of lecturer competencies, formulate a conceptual model for optimizing lecturer competencies based on Islamic Religious Education, and identify strategies that can support the improvement of higher education quality. The study used a library research method with a descriptive qualitative approach. Data were collected through documentation of various relevant literature, including scientific journals, books, proceedings, regulations, and previous research results, then analyzed using content analysis and thematic analysis. The results show that pedagogical, professional, social, personality competencies, as well as research and community service competencies have a significant influence on the quality of learning, student academic achievement, research productivity, and the quality of higher education institutions. Optimization of lecturer competency can be done through continuous training, mentoring systems, quality-based performance evaluation, utilization of digital technology, and internalization of Islamic Religious Education values ​​such as tauhid, amanah, ihsan, istiqamah, and adab. This research produces a conceptual model that integrates the development of academic competency with the strengthening of Islamic character as a strategy to improve the quality of higher education.