Auditorium of Prof. Dr. Suwito, MA SPs UIN Jakarta, SPs NEWS - The Graduate School (SPs) of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta held the 2833rd Thesis Exam at the SPs Theater Room of UIN Jakarta on Monday, August 10, 2026 with the candidate Kombang Tua Siregar.

Kombang is a student of the Master of Islamic Studies program with a concentration in Islamic Religious Education. His thesis is entitled "Optimizing Islamic Boarding School Funding in Improving the Quality of Education (Case Study at Syahbuddin Mustafa Nauli Islamic Boarding School and Al-Hasyimiyah Darul Ulum Modern Islamic Boarding School)". This study aims to analyze funding optimization strategies that focus on the development of internal business units and their contribution to improving the quality of education in the two institutions.

To dissect these financial dynamics, Kombang uses a qualitative method based on field studies by digging up primary data through in-depth interviews, observations, and documentation, which is reinforced by relevant literature studies. Theoretically, this research refers to the concept of funding diversification and the theory of education financial management from Allan Odden which emphasizes the importance of resource alignment and the concept of productive schools.

Empirical findings in the field show that the Syahbuddin Mustafa Nauli Islamic Boarding School (SMN) and the Al-Hasyimiyah Darul Ulum Modern Islamic Boarding School (Pemadu) have both succeeded in developing business units as a pillar of internal funding. In terms of business unit governance, the two Islamic boarding schools still apply a similar management pattern, namely centralistic-traditional under the control of Islamic boarding school leaders.

Although they have similarities in business governance, real differences can be seen in the daily financial management scheme. SMN Islamic Boarding School consistently maintains a full centralistic management pattern, while Pemadu Islamic Boarding School adopts a complementary dual leadership structure, where the leader plays the role of a strategic policy director, while the director of the Islamic boarding school acts as an operational implementer.

Practically, this breakthrough in funding diversification through business units has succeeded in encouraging financial independence of institutions in a measurable manner. The stability of these funds directly supports the improvement of the quality of education through the modernization of learning facilities, the improvement of the welfare of teachers and students, and the presence of various educational program innovations.

The results of this study reinforce the main argument that the availability of adequate funding is an absolute prerequisite for the realization of an ideal quality of education. The sustainability of the institution and the continuous improvement of quality efforts cannot be separated from the financial stability of the institution.

The findings of Kombang also provide a comparative perspective on the classical thought of Zamakhsyari Dhofier (2011) which measures the development of dominant pesantren from socio-cultural forces. On the contrary, the results of this research are in line with the views of Eva Malinda (2018) and Kurniady et al. (2020) regarding the vitality of business units for the sustainability of Islamic boarding schools, and affirm the thoughts of Anggadwita et al. (2021) about the importance of social value-based entrepreneurship.

Through the integration of this perspective and the theoretical footing of Allan Odden, this study concludes that the optimization of business unit-based funding does not only ensure the economic resilience of the institution. Furthermore, this strategy has succeeded in synergizing the economic and pedagogical dimensions of Islamic boarding schools towards sustainable financial independence.

Kombang successfully defended his thesis under the guidance of Suparto, M.Ed, Ph.D, and was tested in front of a board of examiners consisting of Prof. Dr. Yusuf Rahman, MA, Suparto, M.Ed, Ph.D, Prof. Dr. Sururin, M.Ag, Prof. Dr. Suwendi M.Ag.

After paying attention to the thesis writing, the comments of the examiner team and the candidate's answers, the examiner team determined that Kombang Passed with the predicate of Very Satisfactory. Kombang Tua Siregar is the 2833rd Master in the field of Islamic Studies, in the Master's program of the Graduate School of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. (Jay A)