Transformational Leadership of Female Ulama in Improving Education Quality (Case Study at Mamba’ul Ma’arif Islamic Boarding School Denanyar Jombang)

This study aims to formulate in depth related to: How is the transformational leadership of Female Ulama in defining success. Analyzing the internal-external context, setting strategies, building capacity, negotiating authority in improving the quality of education. This study uses a type of qualitative research with a case study approach. Data collection techniques using in-depth interviews, participant observation, and documentation. The data obtained were analyzed using techniques of reading all data, coding, interconnecting themes or descriptions, and interpreting the meaning of themes or descriptions. While the method of checking the validity of the data uses credibility, dependability, transferability, and confirmability techniques. The results of this study indicate that the transformational leadership of female Ulama in improving the quality of Islamic boarding school education is by means of better output of students, better management and leadership of Islamic boarding schools, Islamic boarding schools have religious values ​​in their members in the form of trustworthiness, resignation and tawadu. The definition of pesantren success in a broad sense can reflect the values ​​and beliefs of life. Internal analysis includes 1) an analysis of better school performance, 2) increased student capacity and 3) expectations of teachers are in accordance with expectations, namely the affective process of the school and the conditions of Islamic boarding schools and madrasas that support it. External analysis includes 1) the background and expectations of the parents of the students who enroll their children in Islamic boarding schools, 2) government policies in a global context. Preconditional strategy, Excellent service, Academic strategies, Supporting strategy, Final strategy. Capacity building in the form of: Developing human resources, Creating Islamic boarding schools’ cultures in the form of professional values ​​at work, Decision-making processes through participatory and collaborative methods. In negotiating authority in the form of: collaborative culture, visioning process by the chairman of the foundation, building collaboration with members of the wider community.