Synergizing Early Childhood Education Management and Higher Education: A Path to Enhanced Business Sustainability

Ahmad Nur Budi Utama; Agus Syarif; Bunga Ayu Wulandari; Romi Kurniadi

doi:10.35445/alishlah.v16i4.5977

Synergizing Early Childhood Education Management and Higher Education: A Path to Enhanced Business Sustainability

Ahmad Nur Budi Utama, Agus Syarif, Bunga Ayu Wulandari, Romi Kurniadi

Abstract

Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Indonesia faces critical challenges, including limited financial resources, inadequate managerial support, and weak marketing strategies, which hinder the sustainable growth of ECE institutions. This study proposes a collaborative business management model between ECE institutions and universities to address these issues. The research employed a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) approach, involving 15 participants comprising ECE managers and university representatives. Discussions centered on operational challenges faced by ECE institutions and the potential for universities, leveraging their expertise in business, research, and student engagement, to provide strategic managerial and financial support. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis to design a collaborative model. The findings revealed that universities can play a pivotal role in addressing ECE management constraints by offering expertise in marketing strategies, financial planning, and operational management. The proposed model emphasizes mutual benefits, with universities enhancing their community engagement and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), while ECE institutions receive essential support to improve educational quality and sustainability. This study addresses a gap in the literature by demonstrating the feasibility and advantages of university-ECE partnerships. Such collaborations can transform both sectors by fostering cross-sector policies, improving community development, and enhancing educational outcomes. The collaborative model offers a strategic solution to ECE sustainability challenges in Indonesia. Future efforts should focus on policy frameworks to support these partnerships, enabling broader implementation and long-term impact on educational and societal advancement.

Keywords

ECE Management; Education Collaboration; Universities; Strategic Partnership; Early Childhood Education

Full Text:

PDF

References

Adlini, M. N., Dinda, A. H., Yulinda, S., Chotimah, O., & Merliyana, S. J. (2022). Metode Penelitian Kualitatif Studi Pustaka. Edumaspul: Jurnal Pendidikan, 6(1), 974–980. https://doi.org/10.33487/edumaspul.v6i1.3394

Ahmad Rifai, Husin, Fatimah, & Abdul Rashid bin Abdul Aziz. (2022). The Concept of Paud Education In The Family Environment According To Islamic Education. Proceeding of The International Conference on Economics and Business, 1(1), 108–117. https://doi.org/10.55606/iceb.v1i1.146

Angkur, M. F. M. (2022). Socialization Of The Basic Concepts of PAUD For Teachers, Parents, And The Community In Reok District. Randang Tana - Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat, 5(2), 104–109. https://doi.org/10.36928/jrt.v5i2.1037

Ansari, M. M. (2023). Public and Private Partnerships for Higher Education Financing. In Financing of Higher Education (pp. 113–128). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-7391-8_8

Arimbawa, I. W. A., Wedashwara, W., Zubaidi, A., & Jatmika, A. H. (2023). Collaborating university: Using graph database to assess the network’s characteristics of patenting university in Indonesia. 040008. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0123761

D’Amico, M. M., Algozzine, B., Algozzine, K. M., Correa, V. I., & Muharib, R. (2019). Content-driven Faculty Development in Community College Early Childhood Education Programs. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 43(1), 74–79. https://doi.org/10.1080/10668926.2017.1357510

Dobson, T., Rose, A., Parton, G., & Hart, M. (2020). Boundary crossing in school governing bodies: Perspectives from the business community. Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 48(3), 532–548. https://doi.org/10.1177/1741143218814005

Droissart, J., & Tuytens, M. (2024). The integration of lecturer collaboration within higher education institutions’ quality culture framework. Quality Assurance in Education, 32(3), 356–370. https://doi.org/10.1108/QAE-09-2023-0157

Elkington, J., & Hartigan, P. (2008). The Power of Unreasonable People: How Social Entrepreneurs Create Markets that Change the World. Retrieved from https://store.hbr.org/product/the-power-of-unreasonable-people-how-social-entrepreneurs-create-markets-that-change-the-world/4060

Fadli, M. R. (2021). Memahami desain metode penelitian kualitatif. HUMANIKA, 21(1), 33–54. https://doi.org/10.21831/hum.v21i1.38075

Febriansyah, H., Labdhagati, H., & Anggara, W. G. (2020). How Is It Different From Conventional Learning? https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-7998-1566-2.ch009

Galpin, F., & Birchall, D. (1996). Henley College of Management: Developing a Global Business School. In Transforming Organisations Through Groupware (pp. 101–108). London: Springer London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3052-9_12

Giannini, M. (2015). Organization and Quality in School Education. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 174, 1735–1739. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.01.831

Huxham, C., & Vangen, S. (2013). Managing to collaborate: The theory and practice of collaborative advantage. Managing to Collaborate: The Theory and Practice of Collaborative Advantage, 1–271. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203010167

Kurniadi, R. (2023). Hilirisasi Hasil Riset Berbasis Pemberdayaan Masyarakat, MBKM, dan Social Entrepreneurship. Pekanbaru: Taman Karya.

Kurniadi, R., Arpizal, A., Fajarsari, A. D., Yaldi, D., & Mayasari, M. (2023). Strategi Optimalisasi Capaian IKU 5 Universitas Jambi. Anterior Jurnal, 22(1), 106–110. https://doi.org/10.33084/ANTERIOR.V22I1.4100

Kurniadi, R., Sulistiyo, U., Yaldi, D., & Ekasari, N. (2023). Manajemen Penelitian Perguruan Tinggi. Jambi.

Miksza, P., Shaw, J. T., Kapalka Richerme, L., Hash, P. M., Hodges, D. A., & Cassidy Parker, E. (2023). Qualitative Case Study Research. In Music Education Research (pp. 157–182). Oxford University PressNew York. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780197639757.003.0009

Muhendra, R., Solihin, Saputra, Y., & Rukmayadi, D. (2023). Peningkatan Kolaborasi Universitas dan Sekolah melalui Sharing Pengetahuan dan Praktikum Fisika Industri di Al-Wildan 10 International Islamic School Jakarta. Jurnal Sains Teknologi Dalam Pemberdayaan Masyarakat, 4(2), 79–88. https://doi.org/10.31599/jstpm.v4i2.3058

Muttaqien, R. (2021). Strategic Management in Increasing Teacher Work Motivation. International Journal of Nusantara Islam, 9(1), 206–214. https://doi.org/10.15575/ijni.v9i1.13030

Nurdin, D., & Shidiq, G. M. (2024). Enhancing Early Childhood Education: Boosting Educator Skills through Collaboration between PAUD Working Group and Higher Education Institutions. AL-ISHLAH: Jurnal Pendidikan, 16(2). https://doi.org/10.35445/alishlah.v16i2.4427

Perrotti, C., Longo, N. V., Plaut, J. L., & Bush, A. (2024). Learning through Collaboration. Metropolitan Universities, 35(2). https://doi.org/10.18060/27708

Rasidi, R., Lestari, E. S., Amalia, R. A., Yuliandari, M. R., Balqis, F. A. A., & Pangesti, N. D. (2022). Collaborative Management Practice menuju Sekolah Berkualitas di Bustanul Athfal Aisyiyah Pujotomo. SEMAR (Jurnal Ilmu Pengetahuan, Teknologi, Dan Seni Bagi Masyarakat), 11(2), 117. https://doi.org/10.20961/semar.v11i2.57295

Sartika, L., & Wulandari, D. (2023). Institusi Pendidikan Islam Anak Usia Dini. Jurnal Al Athfaal, 1(1), 2–6. https://doi.org/10.62214/jalfal.v1i1.92

Schäfer, H. (2020). Collaboration Management – Zusammenarbeit im Projekt erfolgreich gestalten. In Transformationsvorhaben mit dem Enterprise Transformation Cycle meistern (pp. 383–395). Wiesbaden: Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-28494-7_19

Sulistyorini, S. (2023). Marketing Management of Educational Services in Early Childhood Education. Jurnal Obsesi : Jurnal Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini, 7(2), 1312–1319. https://doi.org/10.31004/obsesi.v7i2.4093

Tepi Mulyaniapi, Johar Permana, Soemarto, & Diding Nurdin. (2023). Increasing Organizational Capabilities of PAUD Units Through the Digital Leadership Seminar. Dinamisia : Jurnal Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat, 7(5). https://doi.org/10.31849/dinamisia.v7i5.16003

Torraco, R. J. (2000). A Theory of Knowledge Management. Http://Dx.Doi.Org/10.1177/152342230000200105, 2(1), 38–62. https://doi.org/10.1177/152342230000200105

Venkatesh, M. D., Rao, D. S., Kumar, A., & Chari, S. (2022). Private Sector in Professional Education. In India Higher Education Report 2021 (pp. 71–81). London: Routledge India. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003298724-7

Yuliartina, E. (2021). Strategi Pembelajaran Anak Usia Dini di PAUD Yasin AlSys. YASIN, 1(1), 54–64. https://doi.org/10.58578/yasin.v1i1.5

DOI: https://doi.org/10.35445/alishlah.v16i4.5977