PERTANIKA JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

This research aims to examine the succession model implemented by contemporary pesantren to secure the long-term viability of the pesantren organization. The research introduces a novel approach by developing a modern pesantren regeneration model through a comparative analysis of exemplary pesantren institutions under the Islamic teacher cadre education system. The study used a qualitative paradigm with a grounded method. Data were collected through interviews with five key informants, including pesantren authorities, administrators, caretakers, and senior teachers. The findings revealed that pesantren regeneration was classified into educational and academic regeneration. The determination of cadres is carried out through a series of selection processes with the main focus on loyalty, academic ability, and the main understanding of pesantren’s values. The regeneration pattern prioritizes the institutional system over individual or sectoral needs. In addition to academic competence, the academic regeneration program aims to foster critical thinking, aspiration, and independence. Leadership regeneration focuses on the technical aspects of leadership, such as building relationships with members, task delegation, and power dynamics. The research implies that pesantren, or Islamic boarding schools, should be regarded as miniature societies. This means that their longevity and success should be based on the collective efforts and preparation of the cadres rather than being solely dependent on the individual figure of the Kyai, or pesantren principal.

• Aikens, K., McKenzie, M., & Vaughter, P. (2016). Environmental and sustainability education policy research: A systematic review of methodological and thematic trends. Environmental Education Research, 22(3), 333-359. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2015.1135418
  
  Alam, N. A. R. (2018). Strengthening leadership culture (The role of kyai in Indonesian Pesantren). At-Ta’dib, 13(1), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.21111/at-tadib.v13i1.1986
  
  Alwi, S., Iqbal, M., & Manas, N. H. N. (2023). Preventing bullying in Integrated Islamic Boarding Schools of Lhokseumawe City: A strategic management approach. Idarah: Jurnal Pendidikan dan Kependidikan, 7(1), 17-34. https://doi.org/10.47766/idarah.v7i1.138
  
  Azra, H. (2018). Islamic education in Indonesia. In H. Daun & R. Arjmand, (Eds.), Handbook of Islamic Education. International Handbooks of Religion and Education (Vol. 7, pp. 763-780). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-64683-1_32
  
  Azro’i, I., & Fuaidi, I. (2020). The existence of pesantren: Implication study of pesantren leadership regeneration in Central Java. Santri: Journal of Pesantren and Fiqh Sosial, 1(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.35878/santri.v1i1.203
  
  Basori, R., Raharjo, T. J., Prihatin, T., & Yulianto, A. (2023). Maintaining Salafi values through innovative management practices at pesantren. Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 9(2), 145-156. https://doi.org/10.15575/jpi.v9i2.25376
  
  Buang, S., & Chew, P. G.-L. (Eds.). (2014). Muslim education in the 21st Century: Asian perspectives. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315817873
  
  Charmaz, K., & Thornberg, R. (2021). The pursuit of quality in grounded theory. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 18(3), 305-327. https://doi.org/10.1080/14780887.2020.1780357
  
  Erihadiana, M., & Jahari, J. (2018). Development model Islamic Education of basic and intermediate level pesantren based (Islamic Boarding School). Proceedings of the International Conference on Islamic Education (ICIE 2018). https://doi.org/10.2991/icie-18.2018.48
  
  Evans, N., Stevenson, R. B., Lasen, M., Ferreira, J.-A., & Davis, J. (2017). Approaches to embedding sustainability in teacher education: A synthesis of the literature. Teaching and Teacher Education, 63, 405-417. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2017.01.013
  
  Fadhli, M., Prasetyo, M. A. M., Siregar, M. F. Z., Pasaribu, M. H., & Sari, D. D. (2024). Perspective on improving school quality: The influence of teamwork and curriculum effectiveness in Islamic Schools. Journal of Education and Learning, 18(3), 858-867. https://doi.org/10.11591/edulearn.v18i3.21226
  
  Fazlurrahman, H., Abqari, L. S., & Wardoyo, D. T. W. (2022). Pesantren (Islamic boarding schools): The largest form of social entrepreneurship in Indonesia. In V. Ratten (Ed.), Driving Entrepreneurship in Southeast Asia (pp. 54-61). Taylor and Francis. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003260783-5
  
  Gunawan, I., Kusumaningrum, D. E., & Sumarsono, R. B. (2021). Designs of human resource empowerment models in pesantren-based schools using soft system methodology approach: The Indonesian case. Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice, 21(2), 44-66.
  
  Gunawan, M. A., Anwar, K., Prasetyo, M. A. M., & Purwandari, E. (2023). Study of leadership style on employee performance (organizational motivation and commitment). AIP Conference Proceeding, 2736(1), Article 020002. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0171021
  
  Hapsari, M. I., Arifin, S. R., Herianingrum, S., Zaki, I., Mohd Thas Thaker, M. A., Duasa, J., Fathurrohman, M. S., & Roja Salma, J. (2024). Managing waqf land in Indonesia: ANP-driven strategies. Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 32(1), 325-343. https://doi.org/10.47836/pjssh.32.1.15
  
  Karim, A., Bakhtiar, A., Sahrodi, J., & Chang, P. H. (2022). Spiritual leadership behaviors in religious workplace: The case of pesantren. International Journal of Leadership in Education. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603124.2022.2076285
  
  Karim, A., Fathurrohman, O., Muhammadun, Saripudin, W., Rahmat, D., & Mansir, F. (2023). Altruistic works, religion, and corruption: Kiais’ leadership to shape anti-corruption values in pesantren. Cogent Social Sciences, 9(1), Article 2238968. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2023.2238968
  
  Kawakip, A. N. (2020). Globalization and Islamic educational challenges: Views from East Javanese Pesantren. Ulumuna, 24(1), 105-131. https://doi.org/10.20414/ujis.v24i1.385
  
  Khairani, M., Ali, H., & Rosadi, K. I. (2021). Analisis perumusan Undang-Undang Nomor 18 Tahun 2019 tentang Pesantren sebagai produk politik dan kebijakan Pendidikan Islam [An analysis of the formulation of Law number 18/2019 on Pesantren as a political product and Islamic Education policy]. Jurnal Ilmu Manajemen Terapan, 3(1), 86-95. https://doi.org/10.31933/jimt.v3i1.705
  
  Komariah, A., & Kurniady, D. A. (2017). Authentic leadership: Strategy of the implementation of madrasah management of change. Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 6(2), 293-310. https://doi.org/10.14421/jpi.2017.62.293-310
  
  Lukens-Bull, R. (2019). Pesantren, madrasa and the future of Islamic Education in Indonesia. Kawalu: Journal of Local Culture, 6(1), 29-58. https://doi.org/10.32678/kawalu.v6i1.2044
  
  Ma`arif, M. A., Mumtahana, L., Sunarno, S., Mansyuri, A., & Nasith, A. (2023). Developing pesantren educator resources through optimizing the learning organization. Nazhruna: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 6(3), 475-489. https://doi.org/10.31538/nzh.v6i3.4415
  
  Malik, A. (2023). New variants of ultra-conservative Islamic schools in Indonesia: A study on Islamic School endeavor with Islamic Group Movement. Power and Education, 16(1), 14-28. https://doi.org/10.1177/17577438231163042
  
  Malik, R. S. (2018). Educational challenges in 21st century and sustainable development. Journal of Sustainable Development Education and Research, 2(1), 9-20. https://doi.org/10.17509/jsder.v2i1.12266
  
  Maslani, M., Hidayat, W., Qadir, A., & Muhyidin, A. (2023). Ecopedagogy in action: An ethnographic exploration of environmental preservation strategies in pesantren. Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 9(2), 211-222. https://doi.org/10.15575/jpi.v9i2.29347
  
  Masqon, D. (2011). Dynamic of pondok pesantren as indegenous Islamic education centre in Indonesia. TSAQAFAH, 7(1), 155-168. https://doi.org/10.21111/tsaqafah.v7i1.114
  
  Mat Yusoff, S., Hai Leng, C., Abdul Razak, R., Basal, M. H., & Marzaini, A. F. M. (2024). Conceptions of assessment: Perceptions of physical and health education teachers in Selangor, Malaysia. Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 32(1), 189-216. https://doi.org/10.47836/pjssh.32.1.09
  
  Muslim, A. B., Arroisi, J., Jan, J. M., & Ramazani, R. (2024). Indonesian pesantren - affiliated higher education: Universal Islamic values to develop locally engaged but globally oriented multilingual graduates. Research in Post-Compulsory Education, 29(1), 138-157. https://doi.org/10.1080/13596748.2023.2285633
  
  Medias, F., Rahman, A. A., Susamto, A. A., & Pambuko, Z. B. (2022). A systematic literature review on the socio-economic roles of waqf: Evidence from organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries. Journal of Islamic Accounting and Business Research, 13(1), 177-193. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIABR-01-2021-0028
  
  Morse, J. M., Stern, P. N., Corbin, J., Bowers, B., Charmaz, K., & Clarke, A. E. (2016). Developing grounded theory: The second generation (Vol. 3). Routledge.
  
  Mustas, C. (2021). Information behavior of santri in the digital era: From literacy to multiliteracy. Library Philosophy and Practice, 2021, 1-13.
  
  Nilan, P. (2009). The ‘spirit of education’ in Indonesian pesantren. British Journal of Sociology of Education, 30(2), 219-232. https://doi.org/10.1080/01425690802700321
  
  Olsson, D., Gericke, N., & Boeve-de Pauw, J. (2022). The effectiveness of education for sustainable development revisited – a longitudinal study on secondary students’ action competence for sustainability. Environmental Education Research, 28(3), 405-429. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2022.2033170
  
  Pauw, J., Gericke, N., Olsson, D., & Berglund, T. (2015). The effectiveness of education for sustainable development. Sustainability, 7(11), 15693-15717. https://doi.org/10.3390/su71115693
  
  Prasetyo, M. A. M. (2022). Pesantren efektif: Studi gaya kepemimpinan partisipatif [Pesantren effectiveness: participatory leadership style]. Munaddhomah: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 3(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.31538/munaddhomah.v3i1.159
  
  Raihani, D. G., & Drysdale, L. (2013). Indonesia: Leading an Islamic school in a multicultural setting in Indonesia. In C. Day & D. Gurr (Eds.), Leading schools successfully: Stories from the field (pp. 184-193). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203740309
  
  Sakai, M. (2014). Establishing social justice through financial inclusivity: Islamic propagation by Islamic savings and credit cooperatives in Indonesia. TRaNS: Trans -Regional and -National Studies of Southeast Asia, 2(2), 201-222. https://doi.org/10.1017/trn.2014.4
  
  Sakhiyya, Z., & Mulya, T. W. (2023). Introduction: Education in Indonesia—A critical introduction. In Education in the Asia-Pacific Region: Issues, Concerns and Prospects (Vol. 70, pp. 1-14). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-1878-2_1
  
  Samsu, S., Kustati, M., Perrodin, D. D., Ritonga, M., Kosim, M., Rusmini, R., & Suwendi, S. (2021). Community empowerment in leading pesantren: A research of Nyai’s leadership. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education, 10(4), 1237-1244. https://doi.org/10.11591/ijere.v10i4.21833
  
  Sanusi, A., Mighwar, M. Al, Wasliman, I., & Hanafiah, N. (2021). The leadership of K. H. Imam Zarkasyi in managing of Boarding School Darussalam Gontor. International Journal of Educational Research, 4(3), 14-25.
  
  Sarwenda, Rahim, H., Rosyada, D., Zamhari, A., & Salim, A. (2024). Development of digital entrepreneurship programs in pesantren in Indonesia. In M. D. H. Rahiem (Ed.), Religion, Education, Science and Technology towards a More Inclusive and Sustainable Future (Issue 2021, pp. 273-278). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003322054-46
  
  Silvius, G. (2017). Sustainability as a new school of thought in project management. Journal of Cleaner Production, 166, 1479-1493. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.08.121
  
  Songgirin, A. (2020). The urgency of cadre education system at Darunnajah Cipining Islamic Boarding School. Al-Banjari: Jurnal Ilmiah Ilmu-Ilmu Keislaman, 19(2), 260-274. https://doi.org/10.18592/al-banjari.v19i2.3867
  
  Srimulyani, E. (2013). Islamic schooling in Aceh: Change, reform, and local context. Studia Islamika, 20(3), 467-487.
  
  Subaidi, Tantowi, A., Cholid, N., Junaedi, M., Waluyo, & Nursikin, M. (2023). Eco-pesantren: Islamic education in forest conservation landscapes. Fudan Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences, 16(4), 541-567. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40647-023-00386-w
  
  Susilawati, S., & Misbah, M. (2022). Islamic boarding school development: A review from management reshuffle. Pedagonal: Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan, 6(1), 56-67. https://doi.org/10.55215/pedagonal.v6i1.4952
  
  Tolchah, M., & Mu’ammar, M. A. (2019). Islamic education in the globalization era: Challenges, opportunities, and contribution of Islamic education in Indonesia. Humanities & Social Sciences Reviews, 7(4), 1031-1037. https://doi.org/10.18510/hssr.2019.74141
  
  Wahyudani, Z., & Muhazir, M. (2024). Marriage Requirements for Cadres of Pondok Pesantren Gontor: Exploring the Concept of Kafa’ah. Ulul Albab: Jurnal Studi Dan Penelitian Hukum Islam, 7(1), 102-118. https://doi.org/10.30659/jua.v7i1.27460
  
  Wargadinata, W., Wahidmurni, W., Abdussakir, A., Wahyuni, E. N., & Maimunah, I. (2019). Alternative education in the global era: Study of alternative models of Islamic Education in Tazkia International Islamic Boarding School Malang. Library Philosophy and Practice, 2019, 1-12.
  
  Woodward, K. (2015). Indonesian schools: Shaping the future of Islam and democracy in a democratic Muslim country. Journal of International Education and Leadership, 5(1), n1.
  
  Zainal, S., Prasetyo, M. A. M., & Yaacob, C. M. A. (2022). Adopting pesantren-based junior high school programs: The pesantren change its educational system without conflict. Jurnal Ilmiah Islam Futura, 22(2), 260-276. https://doi.org/10.22373/jiif.v22i2.13525
  
  Zakariyah, Z. (2024). Improving madrasah competitiveness Through excellent Islamic education development strategies. Nazhruna: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 7(1), 140-155. https://doi.org/10.31538/nzh.v7i1.4541
  
  Zaki, I., Zusak, M. B. F., Mi’raj, D. A., & Hasib, F. F. (2022). Islamic community-based business cooperation and sustainable development goals: A case of pesantren community in Indonesia. International Journal of Ethics and Systems, 38(4), 621-632. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOES-12-2021-0218
  
  Zarkasyi, H. F. (2015). Modern pondok pesantren: Maintaining tradition in modern system. TSAQAFAH, 11(2), 223-248. https://doi.org/10.21111/tsaqafah.v11i2.267
  
  Zarkasyi, H. F. (2020). Imam Zarkasyi’s modernization of pesantren in Indonesia (A case study of Darussalam Gontor). QIJIS: Qudus International Journal of Islamic Studies, 8(1), 161-200. https://doi.org/10.21043/qijis.v8i1.5760
  
  Zarkasyi, H. F., Mas’ud, F., Hidayatullah, R. A., & Khakim, U. (2024). Strategy of Indonesian Pesantren University in achieving competence of student: A grounded research at UNIDA Gontor. KnE Social Sciences, 9(6), 119-138. https://doi.org/10.18502/kss.v9i6.15260