Innovation Strategies and Digital Transformation in Islamic Higher Education: A Conceptual Analysis of Pesantren-Based Universities with Reference to UNIDA Gontor
Main Article Content
Abstract
Abstract
This article examines strategies of innovation and the challenges and opportunities of digital transformation in Islamic higher education, with particular reference to pesantren-based universities such as Universitas Darussalam (UNIDA) Gontor. Employing a qualitative conceptual approach based on critical synthesis of relevant literature, the study explores how digital innovation can be integrated with the educational values and institutional traditions of Islamic higher education. The analysis highlights key innovation strategies, including blended learning models, curriculum adaptation, capacity building for educators, value-oriented digital pedagogy, and institutional leadership in digital transformation. The study also identifies major challenges such as infrastructural limitations, digital inequality, cultural tensions between traditional pedagogies and digital learning environments, and ethical concerns in online education. At the same time, digital transformation offers significant opportunities for expanding access to learning resources, enhancing pedagogical flexibility, strengthening institutional visibility, and disseminating Islamic scholarship in broader academic networks. This article argues that digital innovation in pesantren-based universities should be guided by a value-driven and context-sensitive framework that aligns technological development with the holistic mission of Islamic education. The findings of this conceptual analysis provide a theoretical foundation for future empirical studies on digital transformation in Islamic higher education contexts.
Keywords: Islamic higher education; digital transforma
Downloads
Article Details
Section
How to Cite
References
Abdullah, W., Tarihoran, N., Supardi, S. et al. Advancing sustainable islamic management education through education for sustainable development. Discov Sustain 7, 257 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-02571-1
Abuowda, A., Iwidat, H. & Alawnah, M. Impact of E-leadership on organizational citizenship behaviour of faculty members in higher education: information and communication technology as a mediator. Discov Educ 3, 48 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44217-024-00133-7
Alharbi, S., & Drew, S. (2014). Using the technology acceptance model in understanding academics’ behavioural intention to use learning management systems. International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications, 5(1), 143–155. doi: https://doi.org/10.14569/IJACSA.2014.050120
Al-Hazaima, H., Alduneibat, K.A., Alhasnawi, M.Y. et al. Exploring sustainability accounting education in the digital era with sustainability leadership as a moderating factor using a two-stage approach PLS-SEM–ANN. Discov Sustain 6, 600 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-01457-6
Alkhashil, M. A., Yehia, E. F., & Al-Rashed, S. A. A. (2026). Digital history as participatory communication: platforms, trust, and youth engagement in Saudi Arabia. Cogent Arts & Humanities, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311983.2025.2610057
Almén, D. (2026). Effects of selective conscription on the labour market and education: Evidence from Sweden. European Journal of Political Economy, 93, 102793. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpoleco.2025.102793
Alobaid, A. A didactical framework for raising awareness of digital multiliteracies among university students: objectives, expectations and challenges. Discov Educ 4, 181 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44217-025-00599-z
Al-Qaimari, G. (2025). Digital Transformation in Contemporary Higher Education Institutions. In: Strategic Planning for Higher Education Institutions. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-04788-5_3
Alvarez, A., Varela, C., Salavarrieta, O., Lozano, C., Castañeda, H., Villamizar, V.H. (2025). Let’s Talk Digital: Education, Digital Transformation and Digital Humanities. In: Stephanidis, C., Antona, M., Ntoa, S., Salvendy, G. (eds) HCI International 2024 – Late Breaking Posters. HCII 2024. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 2321. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-78561-0_11
Arvatz, A., Hadas, B., Waitzman, R. et al. Putting self-regulated learning and teaching into practice: insights from two science teachers and their students. Instr Sci 53, 973–1003 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11251-025-09719-6
Ayob, M.A.S., Sham, F.M. & Alias, J. Exploring the interplay of religion and spirituality: an Islamic perspective on spiritual seeking and human existence. j. relig. educ. 73, 189–205 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40839-025-00259-2
Ayob, M.A.S., Sham, F.M. & Alias, J. Exploring the interplay of religion and spirituality: an Islamic perspective on spiritual seeking and human existence. j. relig. educ. 73, 189–205 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40839-025-00259-2
Bahri, R., Hilmy, M., Mukhlishah, Kurniawan, R., Niam, K., Warits, Abd., & Paisun. (2026). Moral leadership development in Indonesian Islamic boarding schools: a comparative study of two pesantren. British Journal of Religious Education, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/01416200.2026.2627921
Bahri, S., Wahid, A. H., & Najiburrahman. (2024). Digital transformation in pesantren: The kyai's role in improving educational services. Indonesian Journal of Education and Social Studies, 3(2), 61–72. https://ejournal.unuja.ac.id/index.php/IJESS
Barber, J. F. (2016). Digital storytelling: New opportunities for humanities scholarship and pedagogy. Cogent Arts & Humanities, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311983.2016.1181037
Bashori, K., Nuryana, Z., Herdian., & Wijaya, T. T. (2026). The role of Islamic workplace spirituality and grit in predicting teachers' career commitment: A structural equation modeling approach. Acta Psychologica, 264, 106365. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106365
Bauler, T.J., Higgins, B.P., Chamberlain, N.R. et al. Learner Preferences for Asynchronous Independent Learning Materials. Med.Sci.Educ. (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-025-02597-0
Bin Jamil, A.I., Rekan, A.A., Badar, S. (2024). From Integrated to Standard: Reformation of the Islamic Religious Education Curriculum and Teacher Training in Malaysia. In: Akgün, B., Alpaydın, Y. (eds) Global Agendas and Education Reforms. Maarif Global Education Series. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-3068-1_9
BinTaleb, A. (2021). Learning about Islam and Islamic civilisation through a webquest: perspectives from pupils and their teacher. British Journal of Religious Education, 43(2), 218–227. https://doi.org/10.1080/01416200.2020.1735997
Brown, S. R., & Montgomery, D. (2025). Q methodology and education. In Methodology of Educational Measurement and Assessment (MEMA). Springer.
Bukhori Muslim, A., 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
Cabero-Almenara, J., Arancibia, M.L. & Del Prete, A. Technical and Didactic Knowledge of the Moodle LMS in Higher Education. Beyond Functional Use. J. New Approaches Educ. Res. 8, 25–33 (2019). https://doi.org/10.7821/naer.2019.1.327
Córdova, J., Horvát, EÁ. & Romero, D.M. Timing and cross-platform presence shape the online dissemination of science. EPJ Data Sci. 14, 63 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1140/epjds/s13688-025-00580-8
Crompton, H., & Burke, D. (2018). The use of mobile learning in higher education: A systematic review. Computers & Education, 123, 53–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2018.04.007
Crompton, H., & Traxler, J. (Eds.). (2018). Mobile learning and higher education: Challenges in context. Routledge. ISBN 9781138238770.
Ergogo, A. (2025). Media-based instructional innovations: opportunities, practices and challenges at Hossana College of Teacher Education. Cogent Arts & Humanities, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311983.2025.2589526
Fiala, A. Critical Character Education: Whose Character? Which Virtues?. Interchange 55, 159–179 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10780-024-09510-5
Galamba, A. A Hyper-hybrid space for representational and liminal learning in higher education. Smart Learn. Environ. 12, 69 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561-025-00421-1
Garcia, M.A., Culbreth, D., Foxx, S.P. et al. Keeping students safe: the experiences of educators implementing monitoring applications in K-12 settings. Educ Inf Technol 30, 19559–19589 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-025-13493-w
Ghaemi Asl, M. A novel AI-driven approach to greenwashing: breakthroughs in the future fit between domain-specific Islamic enterprises with varying developmental progress and ESG landscapes. Futur Bus J 11, 93 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s43093-025-00497-8
Giatti, S. (2025). Equitable Education for Marginalized Students in Ontario. In: Eizadirad, A., Trifonas, P.P. (eds) Handbook of Anti-Discriminatory Education. Springer International Handbooks of Education. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-76485-1_26
González, F., Pardo-del-Val, M., & Redondo, A. (2024). Development and psychometric validation of a scale for sources of resistance to change in higher education institutions. Journal of Advances in Management Research, 22(1), 24–46. https://doi.org/10.1108/JAMR-10-2023-0286
Hakim, L. (2023). Pesantren as the identity of Islamic and cultural education in West Java. Al-Ishlah: Jurnal Pendidikan, 15(4). https://doi.org/10.35445/alishlah.v15i4.3369
Irham Policies and patterns of integration of science and religion in Indonesian Islamic higher education. High Educ 90, 1311–1328 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-024-01378-9
Isbah, M., Sakhiyya, Z. (2023). Pesantren in Contemporary Indonesia: Negotiating Between Equity and the Market. In: Sakhiyya, Z., Wijaya Mulya, T. (eds) Education in Indonesia. Education in the Asia-Pacific Region: Issues, Concerns and Prospects, vol 70. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-1878-2_8
Jahan, M., Shaha, R.C., Hossain, K.F. et al. Exploring infrastructure, teacher competence, and curriculum knowledge gaps in ICT teaching practices in secondary education in Bangladesh. SN Soc Sci 5, 88 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43545-025-01118-5
Jakandar, L. I. E., Pantiwati, Y., Sunaryo, H., & Fikriah, A. (2025). Integration of religious values in character education: Building the morals of the golden generation. Al-Hayat: Journal of Islamic Education, 9(1), 124–141. https://doi.org/10.35723/ajie.v9i1.107
Jimoh, A. L. (2025). The effect of sustainable leadership on institutional innovation in higher education: The role of organizational learning culture. International Journal of Educational Management, 39(7), 1647–1661. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEM-07-2025-0552
Jinga, A. A., Hussen, J. O., Negash, H. G., & Estifanos, A. B. (2024). Leadership behavior and organizational change management in selected public universities of Ethiopia: Exploring the impact of leadership influences and change processes. Heliyon, 10(19), e37149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e37149
Juhairiyah, J., Saiful Hadi, Dina Kamilia, & Fenny Erdiyani. (2026). Problems of Islamic Religious Education in a Multicultural Environment: Analysis of Challenges and Learning Strategies. Kasyafa: Jurnal Pendidikan Agama Islam, 3(1), 91–99. https://doi.org/10.61166/kasyafa.v3i1.143
Kaptan, E., Cakir, R. The effect of digital storytelling on digital literacy, 21st century skills and achievement. Educ Inf Technol 30, 11047–11071 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-024-13287-6
Karwadi, Bin Zakaria, A. R., Setiyawan, A., & Ferdi Hasan, Moh. (2025). Integration of critical pedagogy in Islamic education: a case study of pre-service teacher training. British Journal of Religious Education, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/01416200.2025.2560905
Khoir, T., Ma’arif, S., Elizabeth, M.Z. et al. The narrowing spaces for Islamic knowledge at Islamic higher education in Indonesia: opportunity and challenge. High Educ 90, 1145–1173 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-024-01370-3
Khoir, T., Ma’arif, S., Elizabeth, M.Z. et al. The narrowing spaces for Islamic knowledge at Islamic higher education in Indonesia: opportunity and challenge. High Educ 90, 1145–1173 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-024-01370-3
Kwangmuang, P., Kosum, S., Sarakan, P., & Nguyen, L. T. (2026). Innovative learning approaches to develop students’ design thinking skills through digital technology and local wisdom in border patrol police schools. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 60, 102047. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2025.102047
Kyei-Akuoko, C., Mensah, R. O., Kuusongno, D. D., Ebow Yalley, C., & Darko Amponsah, K. (2025). Evaluation of blended learning: challenges, academic performance shifts, and the pros and cons in a selected Technical University. Cogent Arts & Humanities, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311983.2024.2435713
Laterza, V., Thomas, D.A., de Andrade, L.H.A. (2026). Critical EdTech Studies, Platforms and Platformisation in Higher Education: An Introduction. In: Thomas, D.A., Laterza, V. (eds) Critical Perspectives on EdTech in Higher Education. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-88173-2_1
Liu, N. The integration of digital educational tools in english classrooms: a mixed-methods study on student participation and skill development in higher education. Educ Inf Technol 30, 25707–25751 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-025-13743-x
Mahsusi, Hudaa, S., Fahmi, M., Kusen, Haryanti, N. D., & Wajdi, M. B. N. (2024). Achieving excellence: the role of digital transformation in madrasah management and Islamic culture. Cogent Arts & Humanities, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311983.2024.2304407
Malkayanti S. Sangadji, Ulfi Saniah, Nur Ali, & Moh Ali. (2025). Digital Transformation and Innovation in Islamic Education Management in Preparing the Golden Generation of Indonesia. Kasyafa: Jurnal Pendidikan Agama Islam, 2(2), 308–315. https://doi.org/10.61166/kasyafa.v2i2.103
Marx, S. (2023). Mapping as critical qualitative research methodology. International Journal of Research & Method in Education, 46(3), 285–299. https://doi.org/10.1080/1743727X.2022.2110231
Mateko, F.M., Dowelani, M. & Sinamano, R. Digital Inequality and Transformation in South African Higher Education During COVID-19: A Comparative Analysis of Historically Disadvantaged and Historically Advantaged Universities. High Educ Policy (2025). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41307-025-00416-0
McKenna, U., & Francis, L. J. (2019). Growing up female and Muslim in the UK: an empirical enquiry into the distinctive religious and social values of young Muslims. British Journal of Religious Education, 41(4), 388–401. https://doi.org/10.1080/01416200.2018.1437393
Mekheimer, M.A. Effective technology integration in higher education: a mixed-methods study of professional development. Educ Inf Technol 30, 25013–25058 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-025-13750-y
Memon, N. (2011). What Islamic school teachers want: towards developing an Islamic teacher education programme. British Journal of Religious Education, 33(3), 285–298. https://doi.org/10.1080/01416200.2011.595912
Mesny, A., Roberge-Maltais, I., & Galy, A. (2026). Innovative assessment and grading practices in higher education: A critical exploration for management educators. The International Journal of Management Education, 24(1), 101307. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijme.2025.101307
Mogra, I. Paradise in the classroom: SEND, salam and surahs in maktab education. j. relig. educ. 73, 337–351 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40839-025-00272-5
Muhammad Faisal Reza, Novianto Ade Wahyudi, Muhammad Jembar Risky, & Abul Mafaakhir. (2025). Digital Ethics from the Perspective of Islamic Education: A Conceptual Study of the Manners of Interacting in Cyberspace. Kasyafa: Jurnal Pendidikan Agama Islam, 2(4), 434–446. https://doi.org/10.61166/kasyafa.v2i4.126
Muis, A. (2025). Incorporating religious moderation values into the Islamic religious education curriculum in secondary education: a systematic review of goals, experiences, methods, and evaluation. British Journal of Religious Education, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/01416200.2025.2598619
Nakaziba, S., Ngulube, P. A model for enhancing digital transformation through technology-related continuing professional development activities in academic libraries in context. Discov Educ 3, 87 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44217-024-00178-8
Nasif, H., & Amin, M. I. (2024). The four central pillars of education at pesantren-based universities UNIDA Gontor, Indonesia. Proceeding of the 1st International Conference on Pesantren and Islamic Studies, 1(1), 166–181. http://jurnal.staiannawawi.com/index.php/
Naveed, Q. N., Choudhary, H., Ahmad, N., Alqahtani, J., & Qahmash, A. I. (2023). Mobile learning in higher education: A systematic literature review. Sustainability, 15(18), 13566. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151813566
Ostrowdun, C. et al. (2024). Supporting Equity in Online Learning during COVID-19. In: Wuetherick, B., Germain-Rutherford, A., Graham, D., Baker, N., Hornsby, D.J., Turner, N.K. (eds) Online Learning, Open Education, and Equity in a Post-Pandemic World. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-69449-3_7
Pahlevi, A. R., Nakazima, D. E. I., & Nursalim, E. (2025). Islam's response to tradition and modernity: The integration of global values, technology, and civilization. IJoIS: Indonesian Journal of Islamic Studies, 6(1), 83–92. https://doi.org/10.59525/ijois.v6i1.990
Perna, L. W. (Ed.). (2026). Higher education: Handbook of theory and research (Vol. 41). Springer.
Pikhart, M., Habeb Al-Obaydi, L., & Klimova, B. (2024). Does digital learning stimulate creativity? Cogent Arts & Humanities, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311983.2024.2407103
Prihatiningtyas, S., Shofiyah, N., Yunus, S.R. et al. Enhancing science literacy through flipbook-based STEM Qur’an e-modules: a case study in Islamic boarding schools. Humanit Soc Sci Commun 12, 841 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05054-w
Pu, J., Safian, A. R. B., Nasrifan, M. N. B., & Saidon, Z. L. B. (2025). Need analysis on developing students' higher order thinking skills in one-to-one Western classical instrumental music lessons in higher education. Acta Psychologica, 254, 104759. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.104759
Rahmadi, I.F. Research on Digital Transformation in Higher Education: Present Concerns and Future Endeavours. TechTrends 68, 647–660 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-024-00971-0
Ramos, D.L.T. (2026). Quality Assurance Information System for State Universities and Colleges in the Philippines. In: Iglesias, A., Shin, J., Bhatt, N., Joshi, A. (eds) Information Systems for Intelligent Systems. ISBM 2025. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol 1743. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-13006-8_12
Rauf, R., Wijaya, H., & Tari, E. (2021). Entrepreneurship education based on environmental insight: Opportunities and challenges in the new normal era. Cogent Arts & Humanities, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311983.2021.1945756
Riccomini, F. E., Cirani, C. B. S., Carvalho, C. C. de, & Storopoli, J. E. (2021). Educational innovation: Trends for higher education in Brazil. International Journal of Educational Management, 35(3), 564–578. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEM-07-2019-0245
Riggs, A. (1990). Biotechnology and Religious Education. British Journal of Religious Education, 13(1), 56–64. https://doi.org/10.1080/0141620900130108
Ro’fah, R., Absor, M.U. Decolonising Social Work Education in Indonesia: The Case of a State Islamic University. Glob Soc Welf (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40609-025-00414-5
Rohmah, Z., Sholihah, D. N., Basthomi, Y., & Milal, A. D. (2024). School-scape as a linguistic battlefield: an LL study at Darussalam education complex of Gontor, Indonesia. Cogent Arts & Humanities, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311983.2024.2348301
Rosyid, A., Aryani, A.T.D. & Arifin, S. Academic citizenship behavior in Islamic higher education: the interplay of ethical leadership and prosocial motivation. Discov Educ 5, 30 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44217-025-01054-9
Sahrodi, J., & Karim, A. (2025). Leader power of Islamic higher education institutions in improving the performance of human resources management. Cogent Arts & Humanities, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311983.2024.2442818
Saif, N., Ali, S., Shaheen, I. et al. Revolutionizing healthcare leadership the critical role of digital citizenship in knowledge sharing. Sci Rep 15, 8970 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-93117-y
Saner, P., Tratschin, L. Educational Entrepreneurship and Digital Strategies: Constructing Organizational Actorhood in Swiss Universities. Minerva (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11024-025-09626-7
Stark, J. (2025). Definition of Digital Transformation. In: Digital Transformation of Industry. Decision Engineering. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-71590-7_4
Sudirman, Sudirman., Ramadhita, Ramadhita., Bachri, S., & Whindari, Y. (2025). The transformation of state Islamic higher education institutions into world-class university: From globalisation to institutional values. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 12, 101705. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.101705
Suhartini, & Fajri, M. (2025). The role of Islamic higher education in developing the character and ethics of Muslim students. Proceeding of International Conference on Education, Society and Humanity, 3(1), 128. https://ejournal.unuja.ac.id/index.php/icesh
Suhayib, & Ansyari, M. F. (2023). Design of Islamic Religious Education: Purposes, alignment of curriculum components and contexts. British Journal of Religious Education, 45(4), 382–393. https://doi.org/10.1080/01416200.2023.2220940
Supriyono, Sumintono, B., & Hakim, L. N. (2025). Critical Islamic educational leadership: investigating how Islamic pedagogic models shape leadership practices. British Journal of Religious Education, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/01416200.2025.2542225
Swain, B.K., Pathak, R.K. Benefits and challenges of using oer in higher education: a pragmatic review. Discov Educ 3, 81 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44217-024-00142-6
Tabassum, F. An analysis of the access to academic resources in higher study in Bangladesh: a case study of the University of Dhaka. SN Soc Sci 3, 199 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43545-023-00789-2
Toronto, C. E., & Remington, R. (2020). A step-by-step guide to conducting an integrative review. Springer Publishing Company.
Trevisan, O., Christensen, R., Drossel, K. et al. Drivers of Digital Realities for Ongoing Teacher Professional Learning. Tech Know Learn 29, 1851–1868 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10758-024-09771-0
Vishnu, S., Tengli, M.B., Ramadas, S. et al. Bridging the Divide: Assessing Digital Infrastructure for Higher Education Online Learning. TechTrends 68, 1107–1116 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-024-00997-4
Wang, S., Alam, G.M., Bashir, K. et al. Reproducing Inequality? Social Capital, Digital Literacy, and SES in Access to Higher Education. Humanit Soc Sci Commun 13, 42 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-06264-y
Wijayanto Aripradono, H., Nursyamsi, I., Wahab, A., & Sultan, Z. (2024). Educational technology for digital transformation of higher education institutions into entrepreneurial universities. Policy & Governance Review, 8(3), 303–322. https://doi.org/10.30589/pgr.v8i3.1019