Madrasah Principal Leadership in the Digital Era: A Literature Review of Challenges and Strategies
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63738/mazidah.v2i2.35Keywords:
Madrasah Leadership, Digital Era, Transformational Leadership, Islamic Education, Digital TransformationAbstract
The development of digital technology has brought significant changes to the education system, including in the management of madrasahs. However, digital transformation in madrasahs still faces various challenges, such as low teacher digital literacy, limited technological infrastructure, and weak digital leadership competencies. This study aims to analyze the leadership challenges of madrasah principals in the digital era, examine effective leadership strategies, and identify relevant leadership models for the transformation of Islamic education. This study uses a literature review method with a qualitative descriptive approach through the analysis of various scientific articles indexed by Scopus and SINTA relevant to the research topic. Data were analyzed using content analysis techniques to produce a systematic, valid, and credible synthesis of findings based on trusted scientific sources. The results show that effective madrasah principal leadership in the digital era is adaptive leadership that integrates transformational leadership, digital competence, and Islamic values. The strategies implemented include improving teachers' digital competence, digitizing administration, strengthening digital literacy, and collaborating with various parties. This study provides a conceptual contribution to the development of Islamic educational leadership that is adaptive, innovative, and oriented towards improving the quality of madrasah education.
References
Asyafi’iyah, N., & Nur, I. (2024). Strategi kepemimpinan kepala madrasah dalam era digital: Meningkatkan kinerja pendidik dan prestasi siswa. Amsir Management Journal, 5(1), 45–57.
Aziz, A., Muadin, A., & Hidayat, T. (2022). Adaptive leadership of madrasah principals in improving the quality of Islamic education in the digital era. Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 8(2), 133–147.
Bond, M., Bedenlier, S., Marín, V. I., & Händel, M. (2021). Emergency remote teaching in higher education: Mapping the first global online semester. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 18(1), 1–24.
Bond, M., Buntins, K., Bedenlier, S., Zawacki-Richter, O., & Kerres, M. (2018). Digital transformation in education. Educational Technology Research and Development, 66(4), 1125–1127.
Bush, T. (2020). Theories of educational leadership and management (5th ed.). Sage Publications.
Dexter, S. (2018). The role of leadership for information technology in education: Systems of practices. Journal of School Leadership, 28(1), 121–139.
Dewi, W. H., & Lazwardi, D. (2021). Gaya kepemimpinan kepala madrasah dalam meningkatkan kualitas pendidikan pada era digital. MindSet: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 1(1), 1–14.
Fadli, M. R. (2021). Memahami desain metode penelitian kualitatif. Humanika, Kajian Ilmiah Mata Kuliah Umum, 21(1), 33–54.
Fauzi, A. (2024). Penguatan literasi digital Islami dalam pendidikan madrasah. Jurnal Pendidikan Islam Modern, 6(1), 55–68.
Fauzi, A., & Nikmatullah, C. (2022). Kepemimpinan kepala madrasah dalam penguatan pendidikan karakter di madrasah. Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 11(2), 145–158.
Fitrah, M. (2017). Peran kepala sekolah dalam meningkatkan mutu pendidikan. Jurnal Penjaminan Mutu, 3(1), 31–42.
Hamdani, H., Marzuki, M., & Mawardaniah, M. (2023). Kepemimpinan kepala madrasah dalam mengembangkan budaya organisasi: Studi kasus di madrasah Kota Langsa. Edukasi Islami: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 12(2).
Harris, A., & Jones, M. (2020). COVID-19 and school leadership: Responding to uncertainty and crisis. School Leadership & Management, 40(4), 243–247.
Hidayat, R. (2021). Kepemimpinan kepala madrasah dalam transformasi pendidikan digital. Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 5(2), 120–132.
Iflya, M. G., & Hidayah, S. N. (2018). Upaya kepala madrasah dalam membina budaya organisasi dan kinerja guru dalam pembelajaran di MIN 5 Majalengka. MANAGERIA: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 3(1), 19–35.
Ismail, M., Rosyadi, A. R., & Kurniawan, F. (2022). Educational leadership management in improving the quality of Islamic education institutions. Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 8(1), 55–68.
Kamalov, F., Santandreu Calonge, D., & Gurrib, I. (2023). New era of artificial intelligence in education: Towards a sustainable multifaceted revolution. Sustainability, 15(16), 12451.
Kementerian Agama Republik Indonesia. (2021). Transformasi digital pendidikan madrasah. Kementerian Agama RI.
Leithwood, K., Harris, A., & Hopkins, D. (2020). Seven strong claims about successful school leadership revisited. School Leadership & Management, 40(1), 5–22.
Maryati, S. (2025). Kepemimpinan transformasional kepala madrasah dalam meningkatkan mutu pendidikan Islam di era digital. IQRO: Journal of Islamic Education, 8(2), 910–920.
Maulana, F. (2023). Kepemimpinan digital kepala madrasah dan pelayanan pendidikan modern. Jurnal Administrasi Pendidikan Islam, 7(1), 44–57.
Mulyasa, E. (2019). Manajemen dan kepemimpinan kepala sekolah profesional. Remaja Rosdakarya.
Nasution, H., & Harahap, M. (2022). Manajemen data dan keamanan siber pada lembaga pendidikan Islam. Jurnal Teknologi Pendidikan Islam, 4(2), 88–101.
Rahman, M. (2022). Peningkatan kompetensi digital guru madrasah di era Society 5.0. Jurnal Pendidikan dan Teknologi, 8(1), 33–45.
Rahmi, E., Muslim, M., & Kholifah, Y. B. (2022). Kepemimpinan visioner kepala madrasah di era digital. El-Rusyd, 7(2), 112–124.
Repindo, R., Jamrizal, J., & Hakim, L. (2025). Tinjauan gaya kepemimpinan kepala madrasah di era digitalisasi. Innovative: Journal of Social Science Research, 5(3), 1120–1132.
Sari, D., & Putra, A. (2023). Tantangan infrastruktur digital pada madrasah di Indonesia. Jurnal Pendidikan Nusantara, 9(3), 150–162.
Sari, P., & Hidayah, L. L. (2025). Digital leadership in madrasah. Mudir: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan, 7(2), 293–302.
Schwab, K. (2017). The fourth industrial revolution. World Economic Forum.
Selwyn, N. (2017). Education and technology: Key issues and debates. Bloomsbury Academic.
Shaked, H., & Schechter, C. (2020). Systems thinking leadership in school improvement. School Leadership & Management, 40(1), 1–4.
Silawati, S., Hidayati, D., Ulya, L. K., & Zakiyah, R. H. (2023). Strategi kepemimpinan kepala madrasah dalam pendidikan karakter peserta didik di era digital 4.0. Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan dan Keislaman, 3(2), 55–66.
Suhardi, M., & Nurhayati, E. (2021). Peran kepala madrasah dalam meningkatkan mutu pendidikan Islam. Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 6(2), 87–99.
Snyder, H. (2019). Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines. Journal of Business Research, 104, 333–339.
Trust, T., & Whalen, J. (2020). Should teachers be trained in emergency remote teaching? Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Technology and Teacher Education, 28(2), 189–199.
Wahyudi, & Hasanah, U. (2021). Kepemimpinan digital kepala madrasah dalam meningkatkan efektivitas pembelajaran daring. Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 10(2), 145–160.
Yusuf, I. (2021). Kepemimpinan transformasional kepala madrasah berbasis nilai Islam. Jurnal Kepemimpinan Pendidikan Islam, 3(2), 70–84.
Zawacki-Richter, O. (2021). Handbook of open, distance and digital education. Springer.
Zawacki-Richter, O., Marín, V. I., Bond, M., & Gouverneur, F. (2021). Systematic review of research on artificial intelligence applications in higher education. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 18(1), 1–27.


