Developing an Authentic Leadership Model for University Rectors and Internalization of Pesantren Values in Enhancing Lecturer Performance at Pesantren-Based Higher Education Institutions

Abstract

Pesantren-based higher education institutions in Indonesia face a distinctive leadership challenge: integrating authentic leadership practices with the deeply embedded values of pesantren tradition to enhance lecturer performance. This study develops and validates a model of authentic leadership for university rectors that incorporates the internalization of pesantren values—including ikhlas (sincerity), tawadhu’ (humility), istiqamah (steadfastness), ukhuwah (brotherhood), and keteladanan (exemplary conduct)—as mediating mechanisms in shaping lecturer performance across teaching, research, and community service domains. Employing a qualitative multi-case study design grounded in the constructivist paradigm, this research was conducted at two pesantren-based higher education institutions in Kabupaten Bogor: Institut Ummul Quro Al-Islami (IUQI) and Universitas Darunnajah. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 28 informants comprising rectors, vice-rectors, faculty deans, department heads, and senior lecturers, supplemented by participatory observation and document analysis over a twelve-month period. Data analysis employed Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña’s interactive model incorporating data condensation, display, and conclusion drawing with verification. The findings reveal a distinctive Pesantren Authentic Leadership (PAL) model comprising four interconnected dimensions: relational transparency grounded in musyawarah, internalized moral perspective rooted in Islamic jurisprudence, balanced processing informed by shura principles, and self-awareness cultivated through muhasabah (self-reflection). The study demonstrates that pesantren value internalization functions as a critical bridging mechanism between authentic leadership and lecturer performance, generating a culture of ibadah-oriented professionalism that transcends conventional performance metrics.