Resilience-based leadership ecosystem in Islamic boarding schools: Evidence from an Indonesian pesantren

This study investigates how the leadership legacy of Sheikh Mustafa Kamal is institutionalized and influences student resilience within a multisystemic framework at Pesantren Darul Mursyidin in West Sumatra. Employing a qualitative approach and a historically embedded case study design, data were gathered through in-depth interviews with family members, pesantren administrators, teachers, students, alumni, and community leaders: participatory observations and analysis of historical and institutional documents supplemented this. Data were then analyzed thematically using an interactive model, which included data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing, with support from triangulation of sources and methods. The findings indicate that student resilience arises from an integrated leadership ecosystem comprising three interrelated dimensions: charismatic leadership, which fosters spiritual resilience through moral authority and religious exemplarity; adaptive leadership, which promotes functional resilience through institutional innovation and participatory governance; and tolerant leadership, which enhances social resilience through inclusivity, dialogue, and community engagement. These dimensions are synthesized into the Resilient Pesantren Leadership Ecosystem model, which emphasizes the interaction among leadership values, institutional practices, and the socio-cultural context. This study contributes to the integration of multisystemic resilience with pesantren leadership, offering context-specific insights that can help sustain educational leadership beyond personal charisma.