Tuan Guru Leadership in Developing Pesantren Education in the Modern Era

Abstract

Modernization, technological change, and shifting public expectations press pesantren to renew their educational practice without giving up Islamic values and scholarly tradition. This study examines how the Tuan Guru leads that renewal at Pondok Pesantren Al-Ishlahuddiny in Kediri, West Lombok. It pursues three aims: to identify the ideas through which the Tuan Guru develops pesantren education for modern challenges, to trace the leadership process that turns those ideas into practice, and to analyze the implications of that leadership for educational development. The research used a qualitative case study design. Data came from observation, structured interviews, and documentation involving the pesantren leader, madrasah principals, teachers, lecturers, senior students, and alumni, and were analyzed through the interactive model of data collection, condensation, display, and verification. The findings show that the Tuan Guru builds an educational system that joins Islamic values and pesantren tradition with science, technology, and contemporary needs. The leadership process is collective, participatory, and grounded in religious values. Its effects reach institutional growth, curriculum integration, stronger educator competence, wider use of technology, improved student skills and character, and greater public trust. The study proposes a Continuity-Adaptation-Transformation model of Tuan Guru leadership. It implies that value-based institutions can modernize successfully when leaders judge carefully what to preserve, what to adapt, and what to transform.