Islamic Religious Education in the Digital Ecosystem: Strategies for Madrasas and Islamic Boarding Schools to Shape the Religious Character of Generation Z

Abstract

The development of the digital ecosystem has changed the way Generation Z acquires knowledge, communicates, builds identity, and understands religious values. This study aims to analyze the strategy of Islamic Religious Education (PAI) in the digital ecosystem and formulate a conceptual framework that integrates the roles of madrasahs, Islamic boarding schools, teachers, families, and digital spaces in the formation of the religious character of Generation Z. The study used a qualitative approach with library research methods through literature synthesis of relevant scientific articles, books, and academic documents. Data were analyzed using content analysis and thematic synthesis to identify patterns, themes, gaps, and relationships between research findings. The results of the study indicate that the formation of the religious character of Generation Z requires the integration of religious values ​​and culture, the role model of teachers/kyai, habituation, interactive and contextual PAI learning, digital-religious literacy, religious digital citizenship, and the involvement of families and digital communities. Madrasahs and Islamic boarding schools serve as the foundation for internalizing values, while technology becomes a supporting space and actualization of character. The study resulted in a PAI-Madrasah-Pesantren-Digital framework that places Islamic values ​​as the foundation, teachers/kyai as role models and mentors, PAI as a space for internalization, and digital literacy as an instrument for strengthening character. Conclusion: Religious character education for Generation Z cannot be achieved solely through Islamic Religious Education (PAI) learning in the classroom, but requires an integrated educational ecosystem between madrasas, Islamic boarding schools, families, and digital spaces so that Islamic values ​​can be applied critically, ethically, adaptively, and sustainably.