From Policy to Institutional Transformation: Curriculum Integration and Governance Reform under Law No. 18 of 2019 in an Indonesian Islamic Boarding School

Abstract

Purpose: This study addresses the implementation of Law No. 18 of 2019 on Islamic Boarding Schools (Pesantren) at Pondok Pesantren Pangeran Diponegoro in Sleman, Yogyakarta, amidst government policy shifts aimed at strengthening pesantren in education, proselytization (dakwah), and community empowerment. It examines operational implementation and its impact on governance and educational activities. Method: Employing a qualitative case study design in Sleman, data were collected through direct observations and semi-structured interviews with a purposively selected sample of administrators and students, analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings: Findings reveal that the law significantly reshaped administrative governance, curriculum integration, and community service programs, successfully enhancing the pesantren’s institutional role despite operational adaptation and resource readiness challenges. Contribution: Beyond offering a context-specific case, this study contributes conceptually to Islamic educational governance by introducing the framework of hybrid governance transformation. It demonstrates how traditional faith-based institutions dynamically negotiate between state-mandated standardization and indigenous pedagogical autonomy, revealing that successful policy integration relies on adaptive co-governance rather than top-down compliance. Future research should explore long-term quantitative metrics of community impact across diverse pesantren typologies. Tujuan: Studi ini membahas implementasi Undang-Undang Nomor 18 Tahun 2019 tentang Pesantren di Pondok Pesantren Pangeran Diponegoro di Sleman, Yogyakarta, di tengah pergeseran kebijakan pemerintah yang bertujuan memperkuat pesantren dalam bidang pendidikan, dakwah, dan pemberdayaan masyarakat. Studi ini meneliti implementasi operasional dan dampaknya terhadap tata kelola dan kegiatan pendidikan. Metodologi: Dengan menggunakan desain studi kasus kualitatif di Sleman, data dikumpulkan melalui observasi langsung dan wawancara semi-terstruktur dengan sampel administrator dan siswa yang dipilih secara purposif, dan dianalisis menggunakan analisis tematik. Hasil Penelitian: Temuan menunjukkan bahwa undang-undang tersebut secara signifikan membentuk kembali tata kelola administrasi, integrasi kurikulum, dan program pengabdian masyarakat, berhasil meningkatkan peran kelembagaan pesantren meskipun menghadapi tantangan adaptasi operasional dan kesiapan sumber daya. Kontribusi: Selain memberikan kontribusi berbasis konteks lokal, studi ini memberikan sumbangan konseptual terhadap tata kelola pendidikan Islam dengan memperkenalkan kerangka transformasi tata kelola hibrid. Studi ini mengungkapkan bagaimana lembaga tradisional berbasis keagamaan secara dinamis bernegosiasi antara standardisasi negara dan otonomi pedagogis lokal, yang menunjukkan bahwa keberhasilan integrasi kebijakan bergantung pada tata kelola adaptif (co-governance) alih-alih kepatuhan top-down semata. Penelitian selanjutnya harus mengeksplorasi metrik kuantitatif jangka panjang tentang dampak komunitas di berbagai tipologi pesantren.