Digital Leadership for Educational Transformation: Experiences of Madrasah Principals

Authors

  • Shahzadi Hina Sain Beaconhouse Head Office Author
  • Izzatul Munawwaroh University of Nurul Jadid image/svg+xml Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.71392/jrem.v5i1.128

Keywords:

Digital Leadership, Educational Transformation, Educational Leadership

Abstract

This study aims to explore the experiences of madrasah principals in implementing digital leadership as an effort to transform education in madrasas. The approach used was qualitative with a phenomenological design to understand the meaning of digital leadership experiences in the context of institutional change. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and documentation studies, then analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The results of the study show three main findings. First, digital transformation begins with the development of a digital vision that serves as the foundation for institutional change. Second, the implementation of digital leadership is carried out through empowering human resources and strengthening collaboration between stakeholders. Third, digital transformation faces various challenges such as limited infrastructure, unequal digital competencies, resistance to change, and budget constraints, but these are overcome through adaptive and gradual strategies. This study concludes that digital leadership in madrasas is a strategic leadership process that integrates vision, empowerment, collaboration, and adaptation in facing digital change. The contribution of this study lies in enriching the study of digital leadership in the context of Islamic education and providing practical implications for the development of digital transformation strategies in madrasas.

References

Anglani, F., Pennetta, S., Reaiche, C., & Boyle, S. (2023). Crossing digital frontiers with cultural intelligence - a new paradigm for project managers. International Journal of Project Management, 41(8), 102543. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2023.102543

Anjilus, W., Talip, R., & Bikar Singh, S. S. (2019). Hubungan Gaya Kepemimpinan Transformasi Dengan Kepuasan Kerja Guru Akademik Tingkatan Enam. Labuan E-Journal of Muamalat and Society (LJMS), 1, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.51200/ljms.vi1.2540

Baharun, H., Kamal, M. N. I., & Munawwaroh, I. (2025). Microsoft Teams-Based Interactive Learning Management Training To Improve Teacher Competence At Mts Nurus Syam, Bondowoso District. GEMEINSCHAFT: Journal of Social and Community Engagement, 3(1), 37-55. https://doi.org/10.71392/gjsce.v3i1.145

Bunjak, A., Bruch, H., & Černe, M. (2022). Context is key: The joint roles of transformational and shared leadership and management innovation in predicting employee IT innovation adoption. International Journal of Information Management, 66(February 2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2022.102516

Colombari, R., Geuna, A., Helper, S., Martins, R., Paolucci, E., Ricci, R., & Seamans, R. (2023). The interplay between data-driven decision-making and digitalization: A firm-level survey of the Italian and US automotive industries. International Journal of Production Economics, 255, 108718.

Dieguez, T., Loureiro, P., & Ferreira, I. (2021). Entrepreneurship and Leadership in Higher Education to Develop the Needed 21st Century Skills. 143–151.

Dodd, S., Widnall, E., Russell, A. E., Curtin, E. L., Simmonds, R., Limmer, M., & Kidger, J. (2022). School-based peer education interventions to improve health: a global systematic review of effectiveness. BMC public health, 22(1), 2247.

Dwivedi, Y. K., Ismagilova, E., Hughes, D. L., Carlson, J., Filieri, R., Jacobson, J., Jain, V., Karjaluoto, H., Kefi, H., Krishen, A. S., Kumar, V., Rahman, M. M., Raman, R., Rauschnabel, P. A., Rowley, J., Salo, J., Tran, G. A., & Wang, Y. (2021). Setting the future of digital and social media marketing research: Perspectives and research propositions. International Journal of Information Management, 59(May 2020), 102168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2020.102168

ElSayary, A. (2023). The impact of a professional upskilling training programme on developing teachers' digital competence. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 39(4), 1154-1166.

Fomba, B. K., Talla, D. N. D. F., & Ningaye, P. (2023). Institutional quality and education quality in developing countries: Effects and transmission channels. Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 14(1), 86-115.

Fullan, M. (2007). Educational reform as continuous improvement. The Keys to Effective Schools: Educational Reform as Continuous Improvement, Second Edition, November, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781483329512.n1

Gkrimpizi, T., Peristeras, V., & Magnisalis, I. (2023). Classification of barriers to digital transformation in higher education institutions: Systematic literature review. Education sciences, 13(7), 746.

Karakose, T., & Tülübaş, T. (2023). Digital Leadership and Sustainable School Improvement-A Conceptual Analysis and Implications for Future Research. Educational Process: International Journal, 12(1), 7 – 18. https://doi.org/10.22521/edupij.2023.121.1

Khoiroh, U., Baharun, H., Agus, A. H., & Mundiri, A. (2025). Emotional management in local wisdom: Strategies for enhancing teachers’ work resilience in pesantren-based madrasah. Journal of Educational Management Research, 4(5), 2296-2309. https://doi.org/10.61987/jemr.v4i5.1331

Kuhlmann, S., & Heuberger, M. (2023). Digital transformation going local: implementation, impacts and constraints from a German perspective. Public Money & Management, 43(2), 147-155.

Munawwaroh, I., & Baharun, H. (2022). Analysis of the effectiveness of cloud-based learning management systems (LMS) in university. International Journal of Instructional Technology, 1(2), 48-57.

Nadeem, M. (2023). Leadership's Role in Effective Quality Assurance Implementation in Higher Education Institutions. Education Quarterly Reviews, 6(3), 237.

Nicolás-Agustín, Á., Jiménez-Jiménez, D., & Maeso-Fernandez, F. (2022). The role of human resource practices in the implementation of digital transformation. International Journal of Manpower, 43(2), 395-410.

Örücü, D., & Kutlugün, H. E. (2022). Navigating the Covid-19 Turbulence in Higher Education: Evidence from Turkish Faculty Members. Research in Educational Administration and Leadership, 7(3), 597–631. https://doi.org/10.30828/real.1159121

Raimo, N., De Turi, I., Albergo, F., & Vitolla, F. (2023). The drivers of the digital transformation in the healthcare industry: An empirical analysis in Italian hospitals. Technovation, 121, 102558.

Ramadhan, C. (2022). The analysis of digital learning platforms use in EFL learning. Jurnal Literasi Digital, 2(2), 139-144.

Santoso, N. R., Sulistyaningtyas, I. D., & Pratama, B. P. (2022). Transformational leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic: Strengthening employee engagement through internal communication. Journal of Communication Inquiry, 01968599221095182.

Schmitz, M. L., Antonietti, C., Consoli, T., Cattaneo, A., Gonon, P., & Petko, D. (2023). Transformational leadership for technology integration in schools: Empowering teachers to use technology in a more demanding way. Computers and Education, 204(July), 104880. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2023.104880

Song, Q., Guo, P., Fu, R., Cooke, F. L., & Chen, Y. (2023). Does human resource system strength help employees act proactively? The roles of crisis strength and work engagement. Human Resource Management, 62(2), 213-228.

Stofkova, J., Poliakova, A., Stofkova, K. R., Malega, P., Krejnus, M., Binasova, V., & Daneshjo, N. (2022). Digital skills as a significant factor of human resources development. Sustainability, 14(20), 13117.

Subrahmanyam, S. (2023). Navigating Global Leadership Strategies for E-Enabling Technology Deployment. Journal of Law and Sustainable Development, 11(6), 1-19.

Wang, K., Li, B., Tian, T., Zakuan, N., & Rani, P. (2023). Evaluate the drivers for digital transformation in higher education institutions in the era of industry 4.0 based on decision-making method. Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 8(3), 100364.

Yakin, A., Agus, A. H., Baharun, H., & Mundiri, A. (2025). Transforming organizational culture in Islamic educational institutions: Cultivating a quality-oriented learning environment for academic excellence. Journal of Educational Management Research, 4(4), 1711-1731. https://doi.org/10.61987/jemr.v4i4.1358

Zhai, N., & Ma, X. (2023). The effectiveness of automated writing evaluation on writing quality: A meta-analysis. Journal of Educational Computing Research, 61(4), 875-900.

Downloads

Published

20-06-2026

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Sain, S. H., & Munawwaroh, I. (2026). Digital Leadership for Educational Transformation: Experiences of Madrasah Principals. Journal of Research in Educational Management, 5(1), 13-27. https://doi.org/10.71392/jrem.v5i1.128