Transformation Seen as Key for Pesantren Graduates to Enter State Universities and Secure Overseas Scholarships
CIREBON — The future of pesantren is not determined by the scale of challenges, but by the courage to change. When pesantren can manage quality, leverage technology, and build public trust, growth is no longer just a hope, but a certainty.
That spirit was the ‘ruh’ of the Workshop for Pesantren Leaders Batch-2 held at Joglo Agung Pesantren VIP Bina Insan Mulia 2 in Cirebon. The event is part of a programme for 5,000 pesantren leaders across Indonesia organised by the Imam Jazuli Foundation.
The workshop was opened by the Director of Pesantren at the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag), Dr Basnang Said, West Java Kemenag Regional Chief Dr H Dudu Rohman, Cirebon Regency Kemenag Head H Slamet M.Ag, Banjar Regency Kemenag Head H Ahmad Fikri Firdaus M.Ag, and Subang Regency Kemenag Head H Dr Badruzzaman.
Kemenag appreciated KH Imam Jazuli’s initiative and commitment to sharing his experiences in an intensive learning session and thanked him for his concern, which Kemenag has not yet been able to provide to pesantren leaders.
Also opening the workshop were the West Java NU (Nahdlatul Ulama) Chairman KH Juhadi Muhamad SH, and eight PCNU (Regional NU) chairmen from West Java: Pangandaran (KH R Hilal Farid), Banjar (KH Rohidi F), Tasikmalaya Regency (KH Atam Rustam), Sukabumi City (KH Anas Syakirillah), Ciamis Regency (KH Arif Ismail C), Bandung City (KH Ahmad Haedari), and Tasikmalaya City (KH Dr Dudu Rohman).
The leaders expressed admiration for Pesantren Bina Insan Mulia’s willingness to share success and encouraged participants to consider it a reference.
Participants showed enthusiasm from the start. According to organisers, after screening over 250 applications, only 126 pesantren leaders from Banjar, Ciamis, Tasikmalaya, Tasikmalaya City, Garut, Bandung, Cimahi, Cianjur, and Sukabumi were selected.
“This is because the requirement is that participants must be the pesantren leader themselves, not a representative, and must have at least 100 students,” said the organisers.
From the questionnaires received, 85% of participants stated the workshop changed their belief that pathways for pesantren graduates to enter domestic state universities and secure overseas scholarships are now clearer.
“KH Imam Jazuli’s explanations as the conceptor and executor of strategies to enter domestic state universities and foreign universities in this workshop made us more understanding and provided more options for pesantren,” said KH Anas Nasrudin from Ciamis.
KH Hasan Sadili from Sukabumi added, “This workshop gave me a roadmap for transforming my pesantren. Previously, I attended similar events, but they focused more on motivation and awareness-raising, not action, let alone practical tips like those shared here.”
“For me, this workshop highlighted the power of social media for those who know how to use it. KH Imam Jazuli explained real experiences and methods of using social media for pesantren growth. More impressively, participants will receive specialised training in digital marketing for pesantren branding,” said KH Apip Ifan Permadi from Tasikmalaya, expressing gratitude.
In his opening speech, Pesantren Bina Insan Mulia’s leader stated that amidst technological disruption, pesantren must be strong, successful, and more useful for Indonesia’s development. This requires improving education quality to boost growth.
According to Kiai Imam, when pesantren gain greater public trust, they naturally become strong and successful in facing change. Thus, the workshop’s focus is on growth and improving education quality.
“I will share experiences to help pesantren leaders guide their graduates into top domestic state universities and secure scholarships at prestigious overseas institutions. The goal is for thousands of students to become pious individuals who also hold strategic positions in national development,” Kiai Imam stated with enthusiasm.
“There are too few students becoming da’i or ustadz in today’s context,” he added.
Therefore, he said, pesantren leaders need encouragement and strategies to change curricula, human resource and financial management, branding, digital marketing, and practical approaches to enter state universities and secure scholarships at leading international institutions.
“This forum is about sharing real experiences from Bina Insan Mulia, not lecturing the kyais, let alone blaming existing practices,” Kiai Imam concluded.