Leadership that combines spiritual values with local cultural wisdom has proven effective in strengthening academic roles at the Ummul Quro Al-Islami Institute (IUQI) in Bogor, Indonesia. This conclusion comes from a 2026 study by Irvan Maulana, Muhammad Husein Maruapey, and R. Oetje Subagdja of Universitas Djuanda Bogor, published in the International Journal of Applied Research and Sustainable Sciences (IJARSS). The research matters because it offers a practical leadership model for higher education institutions facing rapid change while trying to preserve moral and cultural foundations.
The study examines how leadership grounded in spiritual wisdom and local Sundanese values shapes academic life at IUQI Bogor, a relatively young private Islamic university established in 2016 under Indonesia’s Ministry of Religious Affairs. As the institution continues to grow, its leaders face challenges common to many developing universities: integrating academic activities, ensuring accountability, and maintaining academic quality amid digital transformation. The findings show that leadership rooted in ethics, culture, and faith can provide stability and direction during this formative stage.
Why Leadership Values Matter in Higher Education
Across Indonesia, universities are under pressure to deliver quality teaching, research, and community service while adapting to national policies such as Kampus Merdeka and the expansion of digital administration. Many leadership models emphasize efficiency and managerial skills but overlook cultural and spiritual dimensions. This gap becomes more visible in faith-based institutions, where academic governance is closely linked to moral values and community expectations.
At IUQI Bogor, leadership is expected not only to manage systems but also to serve as a moral compass. The research highlights that separating modern leadership practices from local culture often weakens institutional cohesion. By contrast, integrating spiritual and local wisdom helps leaders build trust, maintain integrity, and foster a family-like academic environment.
How the Study Was Conducted
The researchers used a qualitative approach, collecting data directly from the academic environment at IUQI Bogor. They interviewed seven key informants involved in teaching, research, and community service. Observations and document analysis complemented the interviews, allowing the researchers to capture leadership practices as they occur in daily academic life.
Rather than relying on complex statistical models, the study focused on understanding values, behaviors, and interactions. The analysis followed a clear process of organizing, reducing, and interpreting data to identify consistent leadership patterns. This approach made it possible to explore how abstract values translate into concrete academic governance.
Key Findings: A Hybrid Leadership Model
The research identifies a hybrid leadership model that blends spiritual wisdom with local Sundanese values. These elements do not stand alone; they reinforce one another in daily leadership practice.
Spiritual wisdom values observed include:
- Shidiq (honesty): Leaders align words and actions, promoting transparency in decision-making.
- Amanah (trustworthiness): Responsibility is treated as a moral duty, not merely an administrative task.
- Fathonah (intelligence): Leaders demonstrate analytical thinking and contextual understanding.
- Tabligh (effective communication): Policies are communicated clearly, empathetically, and responsibly.
- Istiqomah (consistency): Leaders maintain steady principles despite external pressure or change.
Local Sundanese wisdom values include:
- Cageur (holistic well-being): Leadership emphasizes physical, emotional, and social balance.
- Bener (truth and fairness): Decisions are perceived as just and ethically grounded.
- Bageur (kindness): Respectful behavior strengthens relationships across the academic community.
- Pinter (practical intelligence): Leaders read situations well and use resources effectively.
- Singer (alertness and adaptability): Leaders respond proactively to challenges, including digitalization.
The study shows that the most influential leadership traits at IUQI Bogor are Amanah, Fathonah, and Istiqomah. Intelligence without trust is ineffective, and communication without integrity fails to inspire confidence. Leadership succeeds when these values work together.
Impact on Academic Life
This hybrid leadership model directly supports the Tri Dharma of Higher Education: teaching, research, and community service. Academic integrity improves through transparent administration and ethical research practices. Strategic capacity grows as leaders balance long-term vision with practical execution. Organizational resilience increases because trust and moral responsibility create a supportive work environment.
The study also highlights how IUQI Bogor approaches digital transformation carefully. While adopting online academic systems, leaders strive to preserve personal interaction and a sense of community. This balance helps prevent technology from eroding the institution’s cultural identity.
According to the researchers, leadership at IUQI Bogor challenges the assumption that modern administration must abandon local values. Instead, it shows that cultural and spiritual principles can strengthen governance in a rapidly changing educational landscape.
Expert Insight
The authors note that leadership success at IUQI Bogor depends on alignment between values and context. Irvan Maulana of Universitas Djuanda Bogor explains that effective academic leadership is not only about individual capability but also about “how leadership resonates with the spiritual and cultural values of the academic community.” This alignment builds legitimacy and trust, which are essential for sustainable institutional growth.
Broader Implications
The findings have relevance beyond a single institution. For Islamic universities and other culturally rooted institutions, the IUQI Bogor model offers a reference for leadership development. It suggests that integrating universal ethical principles with local wisdom can improve governance, academic quality, and community engagement.
For policymakers and education leaders, the study provides evidence that leadership frameworks should consider cultural context, especially in non-Western settings. For researchers, it opens new directions for studying leadership that goes beyond conventional managerial theories.
Author Profiles
- Irvan Maulana, Universitas Djuanda Bogor
- Muhammad Husein Maruapey Universitas Djuanda Bogor
- R. Oetje Subagdja, Universitas Djuanda Bogor
Source
Maulana, I., Maruapey, M. H., & Subagdja, R. O. (2026). Leadership Analysis in Realizing Academic Roles and Functions at the Ummul Quro Al-Islami Institute in Bogor.
International Journal of Applied Research and Sustainable Sciences (IJARSS), Vol. 4 No. 1, pp. 1081–1094.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59890/ijarss.v4i1.179
0 Komentar