Auditorium of Prof. Dr. Suwito, MA SPs UIN Jakarta, SPs NEWS – The Graduate School (SPs) of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta held the 1707th Doctoral Promotion Exam in the Auditorium Room of Prof. Dr. Suwito, MA on Wednesday, July 29, 2026 with promovendus Ahmad Romadhon.

Ahmad is a student of the Doctoral program in Islamic Studies with a concentration in Islamic Education. His dissertation is entitled "Pesantren Based Student Service Model (Case Study of Universitas Darussalam Gontor Ponorogo)".

This research departs from the need to reconstruct the typical student service model in pesantren-based universities. Ahmad Romadhon in-depth dissected the policy architecture, implementation mechanisms in various student typologies, and their impact on character formation, managerial competence, and student leadership.

Using a qualitative approach with case study design and a phenomenological lens, this study comprehensively explores the real experiences of the actors involved. Over the course of six months, data was collected through participatory observation, in-depth interviews with 17 key informants, two focus group discussion sessions (FGDs), and analysis of institutional documents.

Through the interactive analysis of the Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña models supported by testing the validity of the data through triangulation and member checking, this study succeeded in formulating three main findings that are the fundamental attraction of student service at UNIDA Gontor.

The first findings show that the success of the service at UNIDA Gontor is rooted in a unique "dualism of legitimacy". This model harmoniously brings together the rational-legal authority typical of modern higher education with the traditional-charismatic authority typical of pesantren, so that devotion is not only an administrative obligation but also full of moral and spiritual values.

The second finding reveals the existence of "pedagogical engineering" in the process of its implementation. Students are placed based on competence and moral track record, then guided through manners coaching, strict mentoring, and measurable challenges as an effective strategy to manage student diversity in one solid cadre system.

Meanwhile, the third finding confirms that the benchmark of the program's success goes beyond mere administrative achievements. This dedication has been proven to trigger habitus transformation, foster independence, resilience, Islamic work ethic, social sensitivity, and create a profile of "professional students" who are ready to lead.

Academically, Ahmad Romadhon's work provides a new color in the midst of a debate between  conventional service-learning approaches, outcome-based education that focuses on measurable competencies, and pesantren traditions that glorify solemnity, manners, and regeneration.

The results of this study reinforce the view that field experiences can produce transformative learning if supported by an integrated institutional engineering of values, authority, boarding life, and direct assignments.

As a major theoretical contribution, this study presents the concept of "institutionally engineered habitus formation". This concept is expected to be a cutting-edge reference for the development of student service models, especially in the pesantren-based university environment in Indonesia.

Ahmad successfully defended his dissertation under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Dede Rosyada, MA, Prof. Dr. Armai Arief, M.Ag, and was tested in front of a board of examiners consisting of Prof. Dr. Zulkifli, MA, Prof. Dr. Dede Rosyada, MA, Prof. Dr. Armai Arief, M.Ag, Prof. Bambang Suryadi, Ph.D, Prof. Dr. Kamarusdiana, MH, Prof. Dr. Suwendi M.Ag.

After paying attention to the writing of the dissertation, the comments of the examiner team and the promovenda's answers, the examiner team determined that Ahmad Romadhon graduated with the title of Very Satisfactory.  Ahmad Romadhon is the 1707th Doctor in the field of Islamic Studies, doctoral program of the Graduate School of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. (Jay A)