QUALITY ASSURANCE FRAMEWORKS IN INDONESIAN PESANTREN: A SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT MODEL FOR ISLAMIC EDUCATION

Abstract

This study examines quality assurance frameworks in Indonesian pesantren and explores how these frameworks can be developed into a sustainable management model for Islamic education. Pesantren, as long standing Islamic educational institutions, possess distinctive cultural, religious, and organizational characteristics that differentiate them from conventional educational institutions. While contemporary demands for accountability and accreditation have increased the relevance of formal quality assurance systems, many pesantren continue to rely on value based practices rooted in moral authority, communal discipline, and religious leadership. This study addresses the gap between externally driven quality assurance models and the internal educational logic of pesantren. Using a qualitative multiple case study approach, data were collected through semi structured interviews, participant observation, and document analysis involving pesantren leaders, teachers, and administrators. The findings reveal that quality assurance in pesantren operates through a hybrid framework combining formal managerial instruments with informal value oriented mechanisms. Leadership, particularly the role of the kiai, plays a central role in defining educational quality and sustaining institutional coherence. Informal practices such as daily discipline, ethical modeling, and dialogical evaluation function as continuous quality control mechanisms, while formal documentation and internal review systems support external accountability. The study further demonstrates that sustainable quality assurance depends on the alignment between management practices and institutional values. Based on empirical findings, this research proposes a sustainable quality assurance management model that integrates value orientation, balanced leadership, adaptive formalization, continuous reflection, and human resource development. This model contributes to educational management literature by offering a context sensitive approach to quality assurance grounded in Islamic educational traditions. The findings provide practical insights for pesantren leaders and policymakers seeking to enhance educational quality while preserving the identity and mission of Islamic education.