THE EFFECT OF TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP ON FACULTY PERFORMANCE THROUGH SELF-EFFICACY AND SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING IN THE ERA OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AT RELIGIOUS HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS


Authors

(1) * Jumira Warlizasusi   (State Institute for Islamic Studies Curup, Bengkulu)  
        Indonesia
(2)  Zulkarnain Zulkarnain   (State Institute for Islamic Studies Curup, Bengkulu)  
        Indonesia
(3)  M. Ramadani   (State Institute for Islamic Studies Curup, Bengkulu)  
        Indonesia
(4)  Ifnaldi Ifnaldi   (State Institute for Islamic Studies Curup, Bengkulu)  
        Indonesia
(*) Corresponding Author

Abstract


Faculty performance is a strategic indicator of higher education quality, particularly at religious universities that face structural, cultural, and academic challenges, as well as the demands of digital transformation in the delivery of higher education. This study aims to analyze the influence of transformational leadership on faculty performance by examining the mediating roles of self-efficacy and self-directed learning. This study employs an exploratory quantitative approach involving 116 faculty members at public religious universities in Indonesia. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire and analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results indicate that transformational leadership has a positive and significant influence on faculty performance, both directly and indirectly through self-efficacy and self-directed learning. Self-efficacy was found to act as a psychological mediator that strengthens lecturers’ engagement in self-directed learning, thereby supporting their ability to adapt to the demands of technology-based teaching, research, and community service—which, in turn, leads to improved lecturer performance in fulfilling the Tri Dharma of Higher Education. These findings underscore the importance of transformational leadership focused on psychological empowerment and strengthening faculty members’ learning capacity in navigating the dynamics of digital transformation. This study provides an empirical contribution to the development of higher education management, particularly in formulating sustainable leadership strategies capable of strengthening the readiness of institutions and faculty members to navigate the digital era at religious universities.

Keywords

Transformational Leadership; Self-Efficacy; Self-Directed Learning; Lecturer Performance; Digital Transformation



Full Text: PDF



References


Albrecht, S. L., Bakker, A. B., Gruman, J. A., Macey, W. H., Saks, A. M., Albrecht, S. L., & Bakker, A. B. (2015). Employee engagement , human resource management practices and competitive advantage An integrated approach. https://doi.org/10.1108/JOEPP-08-2014-0042

Antonopoulou, H., Halkiopoulos, C., Barlou, O., & Beligiannis, G. N. (2021). Transformational Leadership and Digital Skills in Higher Education Institutes: During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Emerging Science Journal, 5(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.28991/esj-2021-01252

Azra, A. (2015). Genealogy of Indonesian Islamic education: Roles in the modernization of Muslim society. Heritage of Nusantara, 4(1), 85–114. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.31291/hn.v4i1.63

Bandura, A. (1997). Self Efficacy:The Exercise of Control. W.H. Freeman and Company.

Bass, B. M., & Riggio, R. E. R. (2006). Transformational Leadership (2nd ed.). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publisher.

Bond, M., & Bedenlier, S. (2021). Emergency remote teaching in higher education: Initial insights into a living systematic review Research across. (August), 24–27.

Baharun, H., Rozi, F., Qodriyah, K., & Hikmah, R. (2025). The Role of Artificial Intelligence Technology in Managing Stress and Improving Teachers’ Mental Health. 2025 International Conference on Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Cloud Computing, and Data Analytics (ICoABCD), 1–8.

Kartikowati, R. S., Nurmalasari, D., Utari, E. D., Nida, R. R., Atmadja, F. S., Suhendry, B., & Riyantie, M. (2026). Transforming English correspondence learning through flipped classroom-based materials. Indonesian Journal of Education and Social Studies, 5(1), 134–149.

Suhermanto. (2024). Sinergitas Teamwork Dalam Meningkatkan Pelayanan Pendidikan Di Madrasah. Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 1(Vol. 1 No. 2 (2024), 1–12.

Suhermanto. (2025). Principal Leadership Strategies for Enhancing Teacher Performance in Islamic Schools. Journal of Educational Management Research (Vol.04/No.05/2025), 4(Journal of Educational Management Resear), 1886–1898.

Bond, M., Bedenlier, S., Marín, V. I., & Händel, M. (2021). Emergency remote teaching in higher education: Mapping the first global online semester. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-021-00282-x

Broadbent, J., & Poon, W. L. (2021). Self-regulated Learning Strategies in Online Higher Education.

Cher, B., & Lim, P. (2003). Engaging Learners in Online Learning Environments. 48(4), 16–24.

Dunst, C. J., & Hamby, D. W. (2018). Meta-Analysis of the Relationships Between Different Leadership Practices and Organizational , Teaming Leader and Employee Outcomes Supplemental Report.

Fackler, S., & Malmberg, L. (2016). Teachers ’ self-ef fi cacy in 14 OECD countries: Teacher , student group , school and leadership effects. 56, 185–195.

Geng, S., & Law, K. M. Y. (2019). Investigating self-directed learning and technology readiness in blending learning environment.

Gumus, S., Bellibas, M. S., & Esen, M. (2018). A systematic review of studies on leadership models in educational research from 1980 to 2014. 46(1), 25–48. https://doi.org/10.1177/1741143216659296

Hair, J., & Alamer, A. (2022). Research Methods in Applied Linguistics Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling ( PLS-SEM ) in second language and education research: Guidelines using an applied example. 1(July), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmal.2022.100027

Hair, J. F., & Hult, G. T. M. (2013). A Primer on Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling ( PLS-SEM ). (800), 1–2.

Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T., Ringle, C., & Sarstedt, M. (2017). A Primer on Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM)—Joseph F. Hair, Jr., G. Tomas M. Hult, Christian Ringle, Marko Sarstedt. In Sage.

Hair, J. F., Risher, J. J., Sarstedt, M., & Ringle, C. M. (2019). When to use and how to report the results of PLS-SEM. European Business Review, 31(1), 2–24. https://doi.org/10.1108/EBR-11-2018-0203

Hallinger, P. (2020). What Do You Think ? 1–52.

Hallinger, P., & Heck, R. H. (2010). Educational Management Administration & Leadership Leadership for Learning : https://doi.org/10.1177/1741143210379060

Henseler, J., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2015). A new criterion for assessing discriminant validity in variance-based structural equation modeling. 115–135. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11747-014-0403-8

Jhon W. Creswell. (2009). Research Design. SAGE Publications, Inc.

Jr, A. R. A. (2012). Academic self-efficacy: From educational theory to instructional practice. 76–85. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40037-012-0012-5

Karatas, K., & Arpaci, I. (2021). The Role of Self-directed Learning , Metacognition , and 21st Century Skills Predicting the Readiness for Online Learning. 13(3). https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/10786

Khairiniza, N., & Rizki, C. A. (2025). Implementasi Pembelajaran Hybrid Berbasis Learning Management System (LMS) dalam Meningkatkan Kemandirian Belajar Siswa pada Mata Pelajaran Pendidikan Agama Islam. Jurnal Pendidikan Agama Islam, 1(3), 65–73. https://doi.org/10.62712/jurpai.v1i2.12

Kunter, M., Klusmann, U., & Richter, D. (2013). Professional Competence of Teachers: Effects on Instructional Quality and Student Development. 105(3), 805–820. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0032583

Leithwood, K., & Harris, A. (2020). Successful School Leadership Program.

Liu, C., Liu, X., & Gao, H. (2026). The effect of academic self-efficacy on academic achievement among university students: A moderated mediation model of achievement goal orientation and teacher ’ s transformational leadership. (February), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1674113

Marginson, S., & Marginson, S. (2022). Oxford Review of Education What is global higher education? What is global higher education? ABSTRACT. Oxford Review of Education, 48(4), 492–517. https://doi.org/10.1080/03054985.2022.2061438

Meang, L. (2024). Pendidikan Guru PAI di Sekolah Dasar: Tantangan dan Peluang di Era Digital. Journal Of Education, 2(2).

Murniati, C. T., Hartono, H., & Nugroho, A. C. (2022). Technology Readiness in E-learning Among University Students. 2022, 213–224. https://doi.org/10.18502/kss.v7i14.11970

Ng, T. L. W. H. (2015). Within-Individual Increases in Innovative Behavior and Creative, Persuasion, and Change Self-Efficacy Over Time: A Social–Cognitive Theory Perspective. Journal of Applied Psychology, 101(1), 14–34. https://doi.org/10.1037/apl0000029

OECD. (2021). Education at a Glance 2021.

Oreg, S. (2011). Leadership and Employees ’ Reactions to Change: The Role of Leaders ’ Personal Attributes and Transformational Leadership Style. (916), 627–659. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6570.2011.01221.x

Panadero, E. (2017). A Review of Self-regulated Learning: Six Models and Four Directions for Research. 8(April), 1–28. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00422

Schaubroeck, J., Lam, S. S. K., & Peng, A. C. (2011). Cognition-Based and Affect-Based Trust as Mediators of Leader Behavior Influences on Team Performance. 96(4), 863–871. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0022625

Skaalvik, E. M., & Skaalvik, S. (2010). Teacher self-ef fi cacy and teacher burnout: A study of relations. 26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2009.11.001

Song, L., & Hill, J. R. (2007). A Conceptual Model for Understanding Self-Directed Learning in Online Environments. Journal of Interactive Online Learning, 6(1), 27–42.

T.H, M. (2019). Self-directed learning: A fundamental competence in a rapidly changing world. International Review of Education, 65(4), 633–653. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11159-019-09793-2

Xue, H., Luo, Y., Luan, Y., & Wang, N. (2019). A meta-analysis of leadership and intrinsic motivation: Examining relative importance and moderators. (August). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.941161

Yokoyama, S. (2019). Academic Self-Efficacy and Academic Performance in Online Learning: A Mini Review. 9(January), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02794

Yokoyama, S. (2024). Review article: Impact of Academic Self-Eficiacy on Online Learning Outcome: A Recent Literature Review. EXCLI Journal, 960–966. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2024-7502

Zimmerman, B. (2016). Becoming a Self-Regulated Learner: An Overview Becoming Learner: Self-Regulated Overview. (April). https://doi.org/10.1207/s15430421tip4102




Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2026 Jumira Warlizasusi