EduAsiaNews, Surabaya – Hj. Lelly Lailiyah Novianti, Dra., M.M., officially earned her doctoral degree after successfully defending her dissertation in a public doctoral examination held on Tuesday (June 30, 2026) at the Ternate Room, ASEEC Tower, Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR). Her dissertation, titled “The Values of Qonun Asasi of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) in the Legal Politics of Human Resource Development in Islamic Boarding Schools Toward Golden Indonesia 2045,” marked another milestone in the University’s academic achievements.
Through her outstanding academic performance, Lelly graduated cum laude with a GPA of 3.97, completing her doctoral studies in two years and ten months. She also became the first doctoral graduate of the Law and Development Study Program at the UNAIR Graduate School.
Strengthening Students’ Character
In her research, Lelly—affectionately known as Bu Nyai Lelly—introduced an innovative approach to Islamic boarding school (pesantren) education by proposing a character education model that integrates religious, educational, and national values as the foundation for developing high-quality human resources to support the Golden Indonesia 2045 vision. According to her, human resource development should extend beyond improving academic competencies alone.
Her study employed the Qonun Asasi NU framework, which encompasses 22 core values categorized into three dimensions. The religious dimension includes monotheism (tauhid), moral integrity, honesty, sincerity, courage, patience, tolerance, moderation, harmony, noble character, proper conduct (adab), and ethics. The educational dimension comprises truth, scholarship, inclusivity, professionalism, and dakwah (Islamic outreach). Meanwhile, the national dimension covers leadership, democracy, cooperation, deliberation, brotherhood, kinship, and justice.
“The integration of the 22 values of Qonun Asasi NU into the TRI VeHTI model provides a holistic, adaptive, and sustainable framework for developing human resources in Islamic boarding schools toward the realization of Golden Indonesia 2045,” she explained.
The wife of Gus Kikin emphasized that the character formation of santri (Islamic boarding school students) extends far beyond classroom instruction.
“This study demonstrates that students’ character is primarily shaped through the exemplary leadership of kiai (Islamic scholars), daily life in the dormitory, student organizations, and community service. While formal education remains important, the internalization of values occurs more effectively through everyday practices,” Lelly stated.
A Qonun Asasi NU-Based Pesantren Education Model
Furthermore, the study produced a pesantren education model based on the values of Qonun Asasi NU by integrating scientific knowledge with religious values, cultivating character through daily routines, implementing character-based assessment, promoting independence and social responsibility, and strengthening national awareness alongside religious moderation. The model is designed to enable Islamic boarding schools to address national development challenges while preserving their identity as value-based educational institutions.
“Golden Indonesia 2045 requires human resources who excel not only academically but also possess integrity, religious moderation, leadership, and social responsibility. The values embodied in Qonun Asasi NU provide a strong foundation for achieving these objectives without compromising the distinctive identity of pesantren education,” said the caretaker of Tebuireng Islamic Boarding School in Jombang.
In addition to proposing a new educational model, her research also introduces an instrument for evaluating students’ character development. She expressed hope that her findings would serve as a valuable reference for strengthening the pesantren education system while contributing to Indonesia’s human resource development.
“I hope the implementation of the Qonun Asasi module will not be limited to Islamic boarding schools but can also be adopted across all levels of education. I believe this concept is universally applicable and relevant to every educational setting,” she said.
The public doctoral examination was attended by members of the Academic Senate, the supervisory committee, and several distinguished guests, including the Minister of Hajj and Umrah of the Republic of Indonesia, Dr. Dr. KH Mochamad Irfan Yusuf Hasyim, M.Si.; the Minister of Social Affairs, Drs. H. Saifullah Yusuf; the Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, Dra. Hj. Arifatul Choiri Fauzi, M.Si.; the Minister of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform (2022–2024), Abdullah Azwar Anas, S.Pd., S.S., M.Si.; the Deputy Rois Syuriah of PBNU, Dr. (HC) Drs. KH Mohammad Hasib Wahab Chasbullah; members of the extended Nahdlatul Ulama family; and Lelly’s family.
