COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF STUDENTS’ LEARNING FINANCIAL NEEDS AND ZAKAT DISTRIBUTION MECHANISMS IN REGIONAL HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

ANALISIS PERBANDINGAN KEPERLUAN KEWANGAN PEMBELAJARAN MAHASISWA DAN MEKANISME AGIHAN ZAKAT DI INSTITUSI PENDIDIKAN TINGGI SERANTAU

Abstract

This study comparatively examines the educational financial needs of undergraduate students against the zakat distribution mechanisms in regional higher education institutions within today's increasingly challenging context. Students are currently faced with rising costs of financial necessities, which include tuition fees, digital requirements, reference materials, and learning equipment, indirectly affecting their academic performance and overall well-being. Within the framework of the Islamic economy, zakat functions as a wealth redistribution instrument that holds the potential to assist the asnaf group, including students in need of financial support. However, the effectiveness of its distribution becomes apparent only when executed through fair and transparent methods. This study adopts a qualitative approach utilizing document analysis and literature reviews, alongside a comparison of zakat distribution practices across selected higher education institutions in the region. It aims to compare students' educational financial costs with zakat distribution mechanisms in regional higher education institutions within the current context through selected institutions, as well as to compare the implementation of existing zakat distribution systems. Furthermore, it assesses the extent to which existing mechanisms can respond to the dynamic changes in educational needs. The findings indicate a mismatch between the increasingly complex financial needs of students and the zakat distribution structures, which remain conventional and less flexible. Procedural constraints, a lack of integrated data, and system variations between institutions emerge as key factors. Consequently, this study proposes improvements through the modernization of zakat management systems, the utilization of information technology, and system coordination at the regional level to ensure a more efficient, fair, and responsive distribution tailored to contemporary educational needs.

Abstrak

Penulisan ini mengkaji secara perbandingan keperluan kewangan pembelajaran mahasiswa dengan mekanisme agihan zakat di institusi pendidikan tinggi serantau dalam konteks semasa yang semakin mencabar. Mahasiswa kini berhadapan dengan peningkatan kos keperluan kewangan  yang merangkumi antaranya yuran pengajian, keperluan digital, bahan rujukan serta peralatan pembelajaran yang secara tidak langsung mempengaruhi tahap pencapaian prestasi akademik dan kesejahteraan mereka. Dalam kerangka ekonomi Islam, zakat berfungsi sebagai instrumen agihan semula kekayaan yang berpotensi membantu golongan asnaf termasuk pelajar yang memerlukan sokongan kewangan. Keberkesanan agihannya  hanya akan jelas tergambar  apabila dilaksanakan melalui kaedah yang adil dan telus. Kajian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif melalui analisis dokumen dan sorotan literatur di samping perbandingan amalan agihan zakat di beberapa institusi pendidikan tinggi terpilih di rantau ini. Kajian ini bermatlamat membandingkan kos keperluan kewangan pembelajaran mahasiswa dengan mekanisme agihan zakat di institusi pendidikan tinggi serantau dalam konteks semasa menerusi institusi terpilih serta perbandingan pelaksanaan sistem agihan zakat sedia ada. Seterusnya menilai sejauh mana mekanisme sedia ada mampu bertindak balas terhadap perubahan keperluan pendidikan yang bersifat dinamik. Dapatan menunjukkan bahawa terdapat ketidakpadanan antara keperluan kewangan mahasiswa yang semakin kompleks dengan struktur agihan zakat yang masih konvensional dan kurang fleksibel. Kekangan dari segi prosedur, kekurangan data bersepadu serta variasi sistem antara institusi menjadi antara faktor utama. Oleh itu, kajian ini mencadangkan penambahbaikan melalui pemodenan sistem pengurusan zakat, penggunaan teknologi maklumat serta penyelarasan sistem di peringkat serantau bagi memastikan agihan yang lebih efisien, adil dan responsif terhadap keperluan pendidikan masa kini.