Ecotourism and Digital Storytelling for Sustainability Education: A Transformative Approach in Islamic Higher Education

This study investigates the integration of ecotourism and digital storytelling as a transformative approach to sustainability education in Islamic higher education. Using a qualitative case study design, data were collected through semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and document analysis involving English education students and lecturers from three universities in Banyuwangi, Indonesia. The findings reveal three major outcomes. First, ecotourism activities provided authentic contexts for English communication, enabling students to enhance fluency, intercultural competence, and confidence in real-life interactions with international visitors. Second, digital storytelling—through videos, blogs, and social media posts—served as a reflective and creative practice, allowing students to document and disseminate sustainability narratives beyond the classroom. Third, students connected their learning experiences with Islamic values, particularly khalifah fil ardh (stewardship) and amanah (responsibility), framing environmental preservation as both an academic and spiritual duty. These results highlight the potential of ecotourism as a “living laboratory” for transformative education, where experiential learning, technology, and Islamic values converge to foster linguistic competence, environmental awareness, and moral responsibility. The study contributes to sustainability education and Islamic pedagogy by proposing ecotourism and digital storytelling as innovative practices that prepare graduates to navigate global challenges while remaining rooted in local and spiritual commitments.