Capacity Building for Lecturers in Textbook Writing through Participatory Action Research

Abstract

The textbook writing training conducted at Universitas Islam Negeri Prof. K.H. Saifuddin Zuhri (UIN Saizu) Purwokerto was designed to address the low rate of independently authored textbooks among lecturers, despite their extensive teaching experience. This community service program aimed to enhance lecturers’ capacity to develop systematic, learning-outcome-based teaching materials aligned with the Outcome-Based Education (OBE) curriculum. Using a qualitative descriptive method with a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach, the program involved 30 lecturers from various faculties. The training combined conceptual sessions, group discussions, case studies, and hands-on activities, enabling participants to draft textbook outlines and initial chapters. Data were collected through observations, documentation, questionnaires, and pre-test/post-test assessments. The results showed significant improvement, with the average score increasing from 60 (adequate) in the pre-test to 87 (excellent) in the post-test. Additional outcomes included the completion of outlines by all participants, initial drafts by more than half, and the formation of a cross-faculty author network to sustain collaboration. The program not only strengthened participants’ technical writing skills but also fostered a culture of academic authorship, contributing to the availability of locally relevant textbooks. In conclusion, this initiative provides a strategic and sustainable solution to improving teaching quality and supporting institutional accreditation.