Abstract
Islamic Religious Education (IRE) plays an important role in fostering students’ religious character; however, teaching materials in higher education remain insufficiently connected to local cultural contexts. This study aimed to develop a Minangkabau ethnopedagogy-based IRE teaching module and evaluate its validity, practicality, and effectiveness in strengthening students’ religious character at UIN Imam Bonjol Padang. The study employed a Research and Development (R&D) approach using the 4D model, comprising define, design, develop, and disseminate. Data were collected through interviews, observations, documentation, questionnaires, and tests. The developed module underwent expert validation and practicality testing involving lecturers and students, followed by effectiveness testing using ANCOVA and N-Gain analysis. Expert evaluation indicated that the module met the criteria for high validity, while lecturer and student responses demonstrated high practicality. The effectiveness analysis showed a statistically significant improvement in students’ religious character (p < .001), with a mean N-Gain of 0.727, categorized as high. These findings indicate that integrating Minangkabau ethnopedagogical values into IRE teaching materials can provide a contextual and culturally responsive approach to strengthening students’ religious character. Nevertheless, as the study was conducted within a single university context, further research across diverse institutional and cultural settings is needed to examine the module’s broader applicability.