The Wisdom of the Past for the Leadership of the Future: Leveraging Ethnopedagogical Values for Competitive Advantage in Modern Islamic Boarding Schools
Fauzan Akmal Firdaus, Alsadika Ziaul Haq, Muhammad Taufiq

STAI Riyadul Ulum Condong, UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, STIT Darul Ishlah Tulang Bawang

Abstract

Amid the turbulence of disruptive globalization, Islamic educational institutions face an existential dilemma between adopting modern managerial paradigms and preserving vernacular traditions that are increasingly eroding. This phenomenon triggers a crisis of institutional distinction, in which modern Islamic boarding schools are often trapped in administrative formalism that negates local cultural capital. This study aims to investigate the deconstruction and reconstruction of ethnopedagogical values as strategic instruments in constructing a competitive advantage in modern Islamic boarding schools. Through a qualitative approach with a multi-case study design, data explanations were extracted via in-depth interviews with managerial elites, ethnographic observations of leadership practices, and discourse analysis of institutional policy documents. Data analysis was conducted through theoretical condensation, matrix visualization, and rigorous methodological triangulation to verify conclusions. The research findings indicate that the synergy between traditional wisdom encompassing charismatic authority, moral autonomy, and social cohesion and futuristic management is capable of creating a distinctive unique value proposition. In this context, ethnopedagogy is not merely positioned as a traditional artifact but as an intangible asset that amplifies institutional resilience and constituent loyalty amidst the dynamics of the education market. This study recommends the codification of local values into formal managerial protocols to achieve harmony between transcendental spirituality and the efficiency of technocratic organizations. Through the structured application of ethnopedagogy, modern Islamic boarding schools can manifest sustainable competitive advantage within the global educational landscape.

Keywords: Ethnopedagogy- Competitive Advantage- Strategic Management- Futuristic Leadership

Topic: Ethonopedagogy (Local Wisdom, Socio Culture)