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Adaptive Governance, Cross-Border Collaboration, and Quality in Borderland Higher Education

Usman Radiana(1), Nani Tursina(2), Militansina Militansina(3),
(1) Educational Quality Assurance Management, Universitas Tanjungpura  Indonesia
(2) Islamic Elementary Teacher Education, Institut Agama Islam Negeri Pontianak  Indonesia
(3) English Education, Institut Agama Islam Negeri Pontianak  Indonesia

Corresponding Author


DOI : https://doi.org/10.24036/jbmp.v15i1.139174

Abstract


Borderland universities require governance that connects local needs, national policy, and cross-national opportunities. This study examines the relationship among management, governance, collaboration, and quality assurance in higher education along the Indonesia-Malaysia border. A descriptive qualitative study involved ten purposively selected informants from five West Kalimantan border regencies. Data from semi-structured interviews, observations, and institutional documents were analyzed using six-phase thematic analysis and validated through triangulation, member checking, and an audit trail. The findings show adaptive, locally responsive management through flexible academic arrangements, participatory coordination, and community-oriented programs. Cross-border governance has developed through leadership forums, joint research, seminars, and limited mobility, but remains constrained by weak bilateral procedures, credit recognition, digital infrastructure, and sustained funding. Quality assurance increasingly emphasizes continuous improvement and capacity building, although lecturer availability and unequal resources remain major constraints. The study proposes an integrative sequence in which adaptive management creates operational capacity, governance provides legitimacy, collaboration expands resources, and network-based quality assurance strengthens sustainability. The framework positions borderland universities as strategic nodes of regional development and educational diplomacy

Keywords


adaptive governance; cross-border collaboration; higher education management; quality assurance; borderland universities

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