The Contribution of the Muslim Diaspora in the Development of Transnational Madrasas:The Indonesia-Middle East Islamic Education Network

Abstract

This study examines the important role played by the Indonesian Muslim diaspora in the Middle East in developing transnational Islamic education networks, especially in the context of madrasah development. Through a qualitative approach with case study methods, the research investigates how the Indonesian Muslim diaspora forms, maintains, and expands Islamic education networks that connect Indonesia with various Middle Eastern countries. The findings show that the Muslim diaspora plays a role as a cultural mediator, a facilitator of knowledge exchange, and a driver of innovation in the madrasah education system. The research identified three main contribution patterns: curriculum transfer and teaching methodology, development of educational infrastructure, and scholarship networks for students and teachers. This study concludes that the transnational networks built by the Muslim diaspora not only strengthen the madrasah education system in Indonesia but also create hybrid educational spaces that integrate traditional Islamic values with contemporary pedagogical approaches, thereby enriching the global Islamic education landscape.