Perceptions of The Kiai Figure and Service Quality towards Sustainable Reputation Improvement in Pesantren

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the influence of the Kiai figure and service quality on the reputation of pesantren in the eyes of the public as a form of sustainability. Kiai has charisma and moral and spiritual references, which build public trust in Islamic boarding schools. Meanwhile, the quality of good Islamic boarding school services is also a key factor in fostering a positive reputation of pesantren. The study used a descriptive quantitative approach with 260 respondents consisting of students, alums, and guardians of students. Data were collected through online questionnaires and analyzed using validity, reliability, and One-Sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov Tests. The instrument data were evaluated by simple linear regression and multiple regression techniques. The findings indicated that the Kiai figure substantially impacted the perception of Islamic boarding schools, with a correlation of 0.986. The quality of service showed a notable impact, with a value of 1.125. Multiple regression analysis showed that both variables contributed significantly to the pesantren reputation, with the influence of the Kiai figure being more dominant than the quality of service. This study is expected to offer empirical insights into the significance of kiai leadership and service quality in cultivating a favourable pesantren reputation.