Development of an Alumni Based Islamic Boarding School at the Hadirul Ulum Islamic Boarding School

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the development of the Hadirul Ulum Islamic Boarding School in Kedungpedati, Tasikrejo, Pemalang which is based on an alumni network from the perspective of Robert D. Putnam’s social capital theory. This qualitative field study employed observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation with purposively selected informants (teachers and alumni), followed by analysis through data reduction, presentation, and drawing of conclusions. The results show that social capital transforms the religious emotional bond between students and the kiai into cooperation and a source of resources for the pesantren. The alumni network is formed from shared educational experiences and closeness to the kiai, and is then channeled through alumni and supporter organizations as well as religious activities in various regions. Trust is maintained through the practice of mutual assistance, the example set by the kiai, and the value of upholding the pesantren’s good reputation, while the norm of reciprocity develops as generalized reciprocity. Alumni contributions include material and non-material support, education, da’wah, the promotion and recruitment of students, as well as access to employment and business opportunities, and the establishment of Raudhatul Athfal, Madrasah Ibtidaiyah, and Madrasah Aliyah. These findings reinforce Putnam’s logic, emphasizing that networks are centered on kiai and that trust is underpinned by religious values. For Islamic education administrators, alumni networks should be positioned as a relational institutional resource. In practical terms, Islamic boarding schools need to formalize alumni management through databases, ongoing communication, and the integration of alumni organizations into strategic planning as a complement to, rather than a replacement for, the social relationships that serve as a source of trust.