The Role of Counselors and University Students’ Adversity Quotient in Enhancing Islamic Education (PAI) Online Learning: Insights from the COVID-19 Experience

Background/purpose. One of the essential components of the online
education system is the university students' adversity quotient (AQ).
This study examines the implications of students' AQ on the
constructiveness of online learning within the Islamic Education
Program (PAI) at the State University of Malang (UM), Indonesia.
Materials/methods. Data were collected using a qualitative case
study method through observations, documentation, and online
interviews with ten students from term one, ten from term three, and
seven from term five studying at the participating universities. The
study employed the interactive model of Miles, Hubermann, and
Saldana for data analysis.
Results. The findings revealed four key indicators of university
students' AQ: persistence, resilience, self-gratitude, and sincerity.
These indicators contributed to enhancing the effectiveness of PAI
online learning, grounded in the philosophical principle that "students
are whole persons." The development of these AQ indicators was
further supported by humanist-religious lecturers who facilitated the
PAI learning process at UM.
Conclusion. The results of this study emphasize the importance of
external support systems, such as counselors, in strengthening
students' AQ and enriching their learning experience. As a result, it
highlights the need to optimize university students' AQ with the
guidance of dedicated humanist-religious lecturers and counselors.
The research also addresses students' challenges, especially during
the pandemic, which disrupted traditional learning environments.