Work

Empowering santri through entrepreneurial education: A path to sustainable development in Islamic boarding schools

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Entrepreneurship education in pesantren offers a distinctive and underexplored pathway for empowering students as agents of socio-economic transformation. While previous studies on entrepreneurship education have largely focused on secular or higher education contexts, this study provides new insights into how Islamic boarding schools integrate entrepreneurial principles with spiritual and moral values to produce graduates who are both economically capable and ethically grounded. This novelty lies in examining the synergy between faith-based character formation and entrepreneurial competencies as a model for sustainable community development. Findings demonstrate that embedding Islamic ethics within entrepreneurial training fosters resilience, creativity, and a long-term sustainability mindset. Students are encouraged not only to create business ventures but also to prioritize community welfare, environmental stewardship, and inclusive growth. This approach strengthens the pesantren-based local economy by generating microenterprises and promoting self-reliance, while preserving the institution’s cultural and religious identity. The impact of this model extends beyond individual student success. It contributes to inclusive economic growth, reduces youth unemployment, and enhances social cohesion in rural and semi-urban areas where pesantren are deeply rooted. By aligning entrepreneurship education with national sustainable development goals, pesantren can serve as strategic partners in addressing structural socio-economic challenges. The study recommends policy interventions and multi-sectoral collaborations between pesantren, government agencies, and private industry to scale this model. Such efforts could position pesantren as innovation hubs that bridge traditional religious education with modern economic competitiveness, setting a precedent for other faith-based institutions globally.

Source: Multidisciplinary Science Journal

DOI: 10.31893/multiscience.2026366