This study aimed to analyse the factual models of national character values, establish a hypothetical model, test the feasibility and describe the determinants of character development and multicultural education based on local wisdom. This research was conducted with a research and development approach. The subjects of this research consisted of students, principals and teachers, while additional information came from various documents and events. The data were collected in numerous ways, namely by observation, interview, documentation, focus group discussion and intake from practitioners and experts, as well as questionnaires. The data analysis was held interactively as the compiled data were assorted. The results of the study showed that the factual models of the national character values development was carried out by integrating the characters in the subjects based on the learning implementation plan, the implementation of which is reflected in the functions of planning, implementation and evaluation. The feasibility of the national character development model and multicultural education based on local wisdom needs to be handled in a neat manner by planning, organising, implementing and supervising them properly. The determinant of character development needs to be assessed by focusing on the content, direction, goals, functions and principles of multicultural education, as well as on the functions and benefits of local wisdom through the input–process–output system approach. Keywords: The pillar of development, national character, multicultural education, local wisdom

This research uses a literature review that examines current articles on principals’ decision-making in implementing the Merdeka Curriculum in elementary schools. The literature review method is assisted by Open Knowledge Maps (OKM) and literature searches using Google Scholar, ERIC, ScienceDirect, and PubMed databases. The findings of this research suggest that principals’ decision-making in curriculum implementation has a significant impact on the quality of education in schools. By considering these aspects, principals can ensure that the curriculum implemented in their schools meets the needs of students and contributes to the achievement of broader educational goals. Principals’ decision-making in implementing the Merdeka Curriculum requires a deep understanding of education, leadership skills, and the ability to collaborate. The implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum is a significant change in Indonesia’s education system that aims to tailor education to local needs better, develop students’ character, and promote competency-based learning. However, successful implementation requires adequate support, training, and resources for schools and educators. This research is limited to a literature review only. So, in the future, it is necessary to carry out field research in order to reveal the principal’s decision-making in implementing the Merdeka Curriculum with various new methods and adapted to current issues.

Quality assurance in higher education is vital for ensuring institutional accountability, improving educational standards, and meeting stakeholder expectations. However, few studies offer clear directions for future research, highlighting the need for further exploration. To address this, this study uses a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach to map key research topics in quality assurance. A total of 2,578 Scopus-indexed articles published between 2013 and 2023 were analyzed, employing keyword co-occurrence mapping to identify thematic clusters. The data analysis was conducted using VOSviewer to uncover trends and advancements in the field. The results reveal four distinct clusters: The red cluster focuses on institutional and policy frameworks, highlighting the role of teaching, policy, and standards. The green cluster emphasizes student perceptions, satisfaction, and service quality, reflecting the growing importance of the student experience. The blue cluster examines accreditation processes, emphasizing their role in maintaining academic standards and ensuring compliance. The yellow cluster explores leadership and engagement, focusing on the relationship between school leadership, stakeholder involvement, and quality assurance practices. These findings offer a strong foundation for advancing both scholarly discourse and practical applications in quality assurance and provide valuable insights to guide future research in addressing emerging challenges in higher education.

This research analyzes the mediating role of leadership in connecting organizational culture, governance, integrity, and public servant effectiveness. By using a stratified proportional random sampling technique, data was collected from 181 employees at KSOP offices and examined using SmartPLS 4.0 for Structural Equation Modeling (SEM-PLS). The results uncovered that while organizational culture and governance independently exhibited restricted immediate influence on staff performance, integrity and leadership demonstrated noteworthy impacts. Leadership was found to facilitate the relationship between integrity and performance, emphasizing the significance of ethical and transparent practices. This study offers theoretical and practical understandings, accentuating leadership as a pivotal lever for enhancing organizational principles, governance frameworks, and integrity, thereby bettering general worker performance. These conclusions add to developing incorporated models that synchronize leadership strategies with organizational goals to cultivate sustainable public sector performance.

This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of digital technology-based interactive learning media on cognitive enhancement in elementary education, thereby providing actionable insights to optimize teaching practices in the digital era. Employing a systematic literature review adapted from the PRISMA framework, the study conducted a structured search across three databases (Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar) and identified 26 eligible articles that met predefined inclusion criteria related to digital technology use and quantitative cognitive outcome measures in elementary settings. The collected data were analyzed using content analysis, a systematic method for categorizing, quantifying, and synthesizing textual data to identify patterns, frequencies, and relationships across the included studies. The results revealed that digital technology integration positively impacts cognitive learning outcomes, with video and animation-based approaches being most prevalent (26.92%), followed by virtual/augmented reality, interactive applications, and educational games (19.23% each). The most significant advancements were observed in problem-solving and spatial reasoning skills, particularly when technologies incorporated constructivist principles, interactive engagement strategies, adaptive feedback mechanisms, and collaborative opportunities. This review confirms digital technology's effectiveness in enhancing elementary students' cognitive learning while emphasizing the importance of pedagogical approach and technology design; stakeholders should prioritize models that foster meaningful technology interactions emphasizing student empowerment, while future research should explore long-term cognitive effects and address limitations in study design heterogeneity and generalizability across diverse contexts.

This research focuses on use of Polypad-based educational media to improve the competence of mathematics teachers using the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) approach. The background to this research includes the challenges in mathematics education in Indonesia, especially in terms of the lack of interactive and relevant educational media, resulting in students' low literacy and numeracy abilities. The problem statement identified is the limitations of media that can affect the effectiveness of mathematics teaching. The main aim of this research is to evaluate the effectiveness of Polypad-based educational media in the context of mathematics learning on the competence of mathematics teachers. The research method used is a quasi-experimental method. Data collection was carried out through questionnaires to measure the effectiveness of Polypad-based educational media in the context of mathematics learning on the competence of mathematics teachers. The quantitative data was analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM) to identify relationships between the variables studied. The research results show that Polypad-based educational media has a significant influence in improving teachers' mathematical competence. SEM analysis revealed a positive relationship between the use of this media and increased competence of mathematics teachers. In conclusion, Polypad-based educational media can increase the effectiveness of mathematics learning and is recommended for application in mathematics education to improve the quality of learning in the future.