Institutional Culture and Student Character Formation: A Qualitative Inquiry in Indonesian Madrasah Ibtidaiyah

Abstract

This study aims to examine how institutional culture contributes to student character formation in an Indonesian Madrasah Ibtidaiyah. Employing a qualitative case study approach, the research was conducted at Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Mambaul Ulum, Banjarejo, Pagelaran, Malang. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with teachers and school leaders, participant observation of daily school activities, and analysis of institutional documents. The findings reveal that institutional culture operates as a structured moral habituation system that systematically shapes students’ character through repeated and embodied daily practices. Three core patterns were identified. First, ritualized respect as moral socialization is expressed through hand-kissing (salaman), greeting (salam), and bowing to teachers, reinforcing humility and courtesy. Second, collective spiritual practices, including communal prayers and congregational Dhuhr prayer, cultivate moral discipline and spiritual awareness. Third, communal responsibility is nurtured through cooperative routines such as collective cleaning and classroom maintenance. Overall, character formation emerges through sustained, collectively regulated practices embedded within the everyday cultural life of the madrasah.