The Role of Pesantren Education in Preparing Students to be Globally Competitive and Have Noble Morals
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study analyzes the role of Pondok Pesantren Al Ulya Kendal in preparing santri (students) to achieve global competitiveness while maintaining noble character in the context of 21st-century technological advancement and globalization. Employing a qualitative case study approach, data were gathered through interviews, observations, and documentation at Pondok Pesantren Al Ulya Kendal. The findings reveal a comprehensive educational strategy encompassing three key dimensions: (1) curriculum integration that blends religious and general education using interactive methods such as sorogan, bandongan, group discussions, and collaborative projects; (2) character formation through habituation and role modeling, emphasizing daily discipline, independence, regular worship, and the exemplary conduct of kyai and ustadz; and (3) the cultivation of 21st-century competencies and leadership skills via programs such as muhadharah (speech training), student organizations (OPPM), and digital literacy initiatives. While challenges such as limited technological infrastructure and resource constraints persist, the pesantren leverages strong alumni networks and community support to sustain its mission. The study concludes that Pondok Pesantren Al Ulya effectively nurtures intellectually capable, morally grounded, and globally adaptable individuals, demonstrating that Islamic educational institutions can harmonize tradition with modernity to meet contemporary global demands.

Citation Metrics:
Downloads
Article Details

Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
References
Abdussamad. (2021). Metode Penelitian Kualitatif. Syakir Media Press.
Adelia, A., Aulia, D., Radiansyah, & Nurbaiti. (2023). Pemanfaatan Teknologi Informasi dalam Perkembangan Bisnis di Era Globalisasi. Jurnal Ekonomi Dan Bisnis Digital, 2(3). https://jurnal.ittc.web.id/index.php/jebd/article/view/2167
Ahadiani, A., Duwy, M. P., Wergiri, S. N., & Sarpini. (2024). Dinamika Kebijakan Internasional: Tantangan dan Peluang di Era Globalisasi. Jurnal Akademik Ekonomi Dan Manajemen, 1(4). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.61722/jaem.v1i4.3373
Alfi, N., Koimah, S. M., & Zahra, N. A. (2024). Penguatan Pendidikan Karakter Berbasis Tradisi Pesantren di Pesantren An Nuqthah: Upaya Membangun Generasi Berakhlak Mulia. Jurnal Ilmu Sosial Dan Budaya Indonesia, 2(2). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.61476/wnb23q92
Azizah, R. N. N. (2024). Krisis Pembentukan Sumber Daya Manusia di Pesantren: Mengatasi Kesenjangan Kualitas di Era Digital Melalui Solusi Adaptif. Jurnal An Najah (Jurnal Pendidikan Islam Dan Sosial Keagamaan), 3(6). https://journal.nabest.id/index.php/annajah/article/view/413
Ferihana, F., & Rahmatullah, A. S. (2023). Pembentukan Adab Santri Berbasis Keteladanan Guru di Pondok Pesantren Hamalatul Qur’an Yogyakarta. Al Qalam: Jurnal Ilmiah Keagamaan Dan Kemasyarakatan, 17(5). https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.35931/aq.v17i5.2689
Fonna, N. (2019). Pengembangan Revolusi Industri 4.0 dalam Berbagai Bidang. Geupedia.
Gustriani, T., & Kholis, M. (2024). Pembelajaran Life Skills bagi Santri sebagai Inovasi Pendidikan di Pesantren. Ainara Journal (Jurnal Penelitian Dan PKM Bidang Ilmu Pendidikan), 5(3). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.54371/ainj.v5i3.499
Halimah, S., Yusuf, A., & Safiudin, K. (2024). Pesantren Education Management: The Transformation of Religious Learning Culture in the Age of Disruption. Nidhomul Haq : Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 9(3). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.31538/ndhq.v9i3.16
Haris, M. A. (2023). Urgensi Digitalisasi Pendidikan Pesantren di Era Society 5.0 (Peluang dan Tantangannya di Pondok Pesantren Al-Amin Indramayu). Islamic Management: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 6(1). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.30868/im.v6i01.3616
Hidayatussa’adah, H., & Sadad, R. (2024). Strategi Pengembangan Kurikulum Pesantren di Daerah Minoritas Muslim: Studi di Pesantren Modern Baitus Sholihin Poso Sulawesi Tengah. Dirasat: Jurnal Manajemen Dan Pendidikan Islam, 10(2). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.26594/dirasat.v10i2.5261
Ichsan, A. S. (2019). Konstruksi Pendidikan Relasi Kiai dan Santri di Pondok Pesantren Lintang Songo Piyungan Yogyakarta. Jurnal Darussalam: Jurnal Pendidikan, Komunikasi Dan Pemikiran Hukum Islam, 11(1), 199–221. https://doi.org/10.30739/darussalam.v11i1.458
Ichsan, A. S., Rahmawati, E., Akbar, K. N., Qodriyah, I. N., Sholikah, M., & Fairuzy, R. (2025). Female Cleric in Raising Health Awareness of Primary School Students at Pesantren An-Nur Ngrukem Bantul. Al-Azkiya: Jurnal Pendidikan MI/SD, 10(1). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.32505/azkiya.v10i1.11710
Ichsan, A. S., Samsudin, S., & Pranajati, N. R. (2021). Pesantren and Liberating Education: A Case Study at Islamic Boarding School ISC Aswaja Lintang Songo Piyungan Yogyakarta. DAYAH: Journal of Islamic Education, 4(1), 112–127. https://doi.org/10.22373/JIE.V4I1.8269
Junaidi, K., Hitami, M., & Zaitun, Z. (2024). Dampak Transformasi Digital terhadap Metode Pengajaran di Pondok Pesantren Kabupaten Kampar: Peluang dan Tantangan. Instructional Development Journal (IDJ), 7(1). https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.24014/idj.v7i1.31426
Karimah, U., Mutiara, D., Rizki, R., & Farhan, M. (2023). Pondok Pesantren dan Tantangan: Menyiapkan Santri Tangguh di Era Society. Al- Fikri: Jurnal Studi Dan Penelitian Pendidikan Islam, 6(1), 42–59. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.30659/jspi.6.1.42-59
King, P. E. (2003). Religion and Identity: The Role of Ideological, Social, and Spiritual Contexts. In Beyond the Self. Routledge.
Komariah, D. S. & A. (2013). Metodologi Penelitian Kualitatif. Alfabeta.
Kusumastuti, A., & Khoiron, A. M. (2021). Metode Penelitian Kualitatif. LPSP.
Mardiyanto, M., A. M, M. I., Asmara, A., Switri, E., Sukmawati, E., Sitorus, R. H., Amalia, I., Indrawati, N., & Suryaningrum, S. (2023). Pendidikan Karakter: Mendidik Karakter dalam Dunia Modern. PT. Mifandi Mandiri Digital.
Muid, A., Arifin, B., & Karim, A. (2024). Peluang dan Tantangan Pendidikan Pesantren di Era Digital (Studi Kasus di Pondok Pesantren Al-Islah Bungah Gresik). MODELING: Jurnal Program Studi PGMI, 11(1). https://jurnal.stitnualhikmah.ac.id/index.php/modeling/article/view/2254
Muslim, M. G., Halimatussadiyah, Kusnadi, & Rahman, P. (2025). Membangun Akhlak yang Indah pada Era Globalisasi dalam Perspektif Al-Qur’an Terhadap Interaksi Agama. Al-Ikhtiar : Jurnal Studi Islam, 2(3). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.71242/g8jscg40
Muzakky, R. M. R., Mahmuudy, R., & Faristiana, A. R. (2023). Transformasi Pesantren Menghadapi Era Revolusi Digital 4.0. ALADALAH: Jurnal Politik, Sosial, Hukum Dan Humaniora, 1(3). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.59246/aladalah.v1i3.371
Najib, M. I., & Khaudli, M. I. (2025). Transformasi dari Tradisional ke Modern: Pendekatan Strategis Manajemen Kurikulum Pesantren untuk Daya Saing Global. Journal of Islamic Religious Education (JoIRE), 1(3). https://doi.org/https://journal.ppmi.web.id/index.php/joire/article/view/2473
Prihatin, E., & Sutangsa. (2025). Transformasi Kebijakan Pendidikan: dari Konsep hingga Pelaksanaan di Era Digital. Indonesia Emas Group.
Rosidah, G. R., Syamil, A., Hurit, R. U., Asman, A., Lestariningsih, Radjawane, L. E., Bagenda, C., Amane, N. F. P. O., Saloom, C. P. T., S, S., Fadhilatunisa, N. B. G., & Fakhri, M. M. (2023). Metodologi Penelitian Kuantitatif Kualitatif dan Kombinasi (S. Bahri (ed.)). CV Media Sains Indonesia.
Rustam, R., & Ichsan, A. S. (2020). Pendidikan Islam Berbasis Kearifan Lokal. IQRO: Journal of Islamic Education, 3(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.24256/IQRO.V3I1.1366
Schwab. (2017). The Fourth Industrial Revolution. Crown Business.
Setiawan, A. (2024). Integrating Digital Literacy and Entrepreneurship in Pesantren Curriculum for Economic Empowerment. Edu Spectrum: Journal of Multidimensional Education, 1(1). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.70063/eduspectrum.v1i1.26
Sugiyono. (2016). Memahami Penelitian Kualitatif. Alfabeta.
Sutomo, S., Musnandar, A., Alzitawi, D. U. D. M., & Sutrisno, S. (2024). Religious-Sociocultural Networks and Social Capital Enhancement in Pesantren. Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 10(1). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.15575/jpi.v10i1.19997














