YOGYAKARTA, April 8, 2026 — The concept of ihsan-based leadership as the highest form of motivation in Islamic education took center stage during an open senate session at UIN Sunan Kalijaga, which inaugurated six new professors on Wednesday (April 8).

In the academic forum, Prof. Dr. Zainal Arifin argued that the crisis in modern educational leadership lies not merely in managerial shortcomings, but in the erosion of ethical and spiritual foundations.

He positioned ihsan—the Islamic concept of moral and spiritual excellence—not as a normative ideal, but as an operational framework that integrates intention, professional performance, and social impact into a unified model of leadership.

Arifin also engaged with the theory of self-transcendence proposed by Abraham Maslow, highlighting a key distinction: while modern theories center on human achievement, ihsan is rooted in a theocentric awareness that guides all leadership actions.

He outlined three core dimensions of ihsan-based leadership: sincerity of intention grounded in faith, professional excellence as an expression of belief, and a strong orientation toward public good.

According to Arifin, leadership in Islamic educational institutions must go beyond administrative effectiveness, emphasizing the importance of building moral cohesion and delivering sustainable social impact.

“Ihsan transforms work from a mere obligation into a conscious and meaningful act of service,” he said.

The concept signals a shift in Islamic educational leadership—from a focus on efficiency to value-driven transformation—while reinforcing the role of religious higher education institutions in addressing increasingly complex global challenges.