INOVASI PENDIDIKAN PESANTREN DI ERA DIGITAL (Studi Kasus Pondok Pesantren Puncak Darussalam Pamekasan)

Pesantren, as the oldest Islamic educational institution in Indonesia, is confronted with a dual challenge in the digital era: preserving the authenticity of its scholarly traditions while responding to rapid technological acceleration. However, the trajectory of educational innovation in pesantren remains largely confined to the technical domain of digitalization, with limited integrative efforts that conceptually and contextually connect pesantren values with digital innovation. This study aims to construct a comprehensive understanding of the concepts, foundations, and implementation of educational innovation in pesantren in the digital era through a case study at Pondok Pesantren Puncak Darussalam Pamekasan. Grounded in an interpretive paradigm, this research employs a qualitative approach with an intrinsic case study design. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, participant observation, and documentation, and were analyzed interactively through data condensation, data display, and conclusion drawing, with validity ensured through triangulation and member checking. The findings reveal that educational innovation in pesantren is not a manifestation of technological euphoria, but rather an articulation of a multilayered value construction—comprising theological, philosophical, sociological, and cultural dimensions—that frames innovation as a form of religious praxis imbued with moral responsibility and oriented toward public benefit (maslahah). Within this framework, technology is decisively repositioned as a strategic instrument rather than an end in itself, reinforcing the pesantren’s core mission of cultivating individuals who are faithful, knowledgeable, and morally grounded. At the implementation level, innovation unfolds through a systematic, gradual, and collective orchestration, encompassing a cycle of critical awareness, idea formulation, implementation, reflective evaluation, and institutionalization into organizational culture. This dynamic process is sustained by mechanisms of ijtihad jamā‘ī and visionary kyai leadership as the driving epicenter, ensuring that innovation remains anchored within the value system and tradition. Consequently, innovation extends beyond mere technical digitalization, transforming into a cultural force that enhances the quality of learning, strengthens students’ character formation, and fosters an adaptive educational ecosystem without losing its identity.