The Tawhidic Paradigm as Workplace Spirituality in Islamic Higher Education: Governance, Talent Management and Organizational Excellence

The concept of workplace spirituality is increasingly attracting scholarly attention due to its potential to foster meaningful work, ethical behavior, and organizational success. However, empirical research remains limited regarding how faith-based spirituality translates into formal organizational practices. This study explores the manifestation and institutionalization of the Tawhidic paradigm as a foundation for workplace spirituality within an Islamic higher education institution. Particular focus is placed on governance, talent management, and organizational excellence. Employing a qualitative case study approach, data were collected through semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions involving representatives from four staff associations and subsequently analyzed using thematic analysis. Three key themes emerged from the findings: the strength of spirituality and community spirit within the Tawhidic paradigm; challenges in governance and talent management; and the integration of workplace harmony with organizational excellence. The Tawhidic paradigm was found to provide a robust foundation for spirituality and community spirit. However, concerns regarding implementation transparency, recognition, career advancement, promotion criteria, and professional competence created a gap between held spiritual values ​​and formal organizational practices. This resulted in tension between harmony and excellence, suggesting that a supportive and comfortable work environment could contribute to complacency, resistance to change, and a lack of readiness to embrace technology and artificial intelligence (AI). By bridging the gap between values ​​and organizational practices, this study extends the scope of workplace spirituality beyond individual and communal experiences toward a more holistic framework for sustainable organizational excellence within Islamic higher education institutions.