Challenges of Educational Management in the Islamic Higher Education Sector Based on Pesantren

Abstract

Higher education is required to regulate the dynamics of society as it develops. Pesantren-based higher education is present in responding to the challenges of the community to provide access to integrated education in providing academic and spiritual understanding at the same time. This study aims to see the management of Islamic higher education based on pesantren at the Al-Qodiri Islamic Institute Jember and the Syarifuddin Lumajang Islamic Institute, East Java, Indonesia. This research has relevance to examine and see how pesantren-based religious universities can manage universities that are faced with global progress, both in academics, management, and so on. A phenomenological qualitative research approach with a multi-site design is used. Data was collected through interviews with university leaders and various relevant literature. Data collected and declared credible is then analyzed interactively, starting from data collection, reduction, display, and conclusion data. The results of this study show that the management of Islamic religious universities based on pesantren runs with a well-organized system and control. Both carry out the managerial system autonomously and are not shackled by the power of Islamic boarding school caregivers and Foundation administrators. This means if universities are based on autonomous pesantren in their management, then they can overcome the challenges of globalization, and vice versa.

Received: 11 September 2023 / Accepted: 20 October 2023 / Published: 5 November 2023