Pesantren Values in the Digital Age: Shaping Academic Ethics and Social Responsibility among University Students
Keywords:
pesantren values; academic ethics; social responsibility; value internalization; digital higher educationAbstract
This study explored how pesantren values shaped academic ethics and social responsibility among university students in the digital age. Amid growing concerns over academic dishonesty, misuse of artificial intelligence, and declining social responsibility in higher education, values-based education has gained renewed importance. Using Value Internalization Theory as the analytical framework, this qualitative case study investigated how traditional pesantren values were interpreted and enacted within contemporary university settings. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with undergraduate students who had previously studied in pesantren institutions and were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed that values such as amanah (trustworthiness), ikhlas (sincerity), ta’dzim (respect), ukhuwah (solidarity), and mas’uliyyah (responsibility) served as internal moral resources that guided students’ academic integrity, ethical use of digital technologies, and commitment to social responsibility. The study further found that value internalization was a dynamic and ongoing process, requiring students to continually reinterpret traditional ethical principles in response to emerging digital challenges. These findings highlight the enduring relevance of indigenous moral education in addressing ethical dilemmas in higher education and suggest that integrating culturally grounded values into university learning can strengthen academic ethics and foster responsible digital citizenship. By bridging indigenous Islamic educational philosophy with contemporary debates on digital ethics, this study contributes to the growing global discourse on values-based education in the era of digital transformation.
https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.25.7.41
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Copyright (c) 2026 Ahmad Afiif, Ali Rahman, Besse Marjani Alwi, Arifuddin M. Arif Arif, Sitti Nadirah
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