Higher education has a vital role in nation-building, it is a means to realize intellectuals in order to organize the life of an established nation. This paper aims to explore efforts to improve the quality of pesantren colleges through ISO 21001: 2018 in producing quality, skilled, and professional generations. The method used in this research is a qualitative approach. The informants in this study consisted of leaders, heads of institutions, and faculty leaders. Data collection techniques are carried out using interviews, observation, and documentation, in order to obtain accurate information about the material being studied. The data analysis technique uses data display, data reduction, and drawing conclusions. The results of this study indicate that the application of ISO 21001: 2018 is capable of delivering quality administrative governance to the development and improvement of the quality of pesantren higher education. Do not forget the application of ISO is not the final step and does not automatically become a quality institution, the need for teamwork in increasing self-confidence, communication, and developing independence.

A higher education institution has a vital role in nation-building; it is a means to realise educated intellectuals in order to organise the life of the nation toward a more established direction. This big challenge is a challenge for the entire academic community of pesantren colleges to provide the best quality education. The process of education in tertiary institutions has the aim of giving birth to a generation of quality, skilled, professional, and qualified in certain fields so that they are not only mastered but can also provide a real contribution in people’s lives. In the formation of a quality education system, in addition to human resources, facilities and infrastructure, curriculum and capital also requires absolute management. This research aims to analyse and understand the dynamics of higher education quality of boarding schools based on ISO 21001:2018 to Nurul Jadid University, Paiton, Probolinggo, East Java. Indonesia’s high-quality education is an absolute effort to compete globally. The method used in this research is a qualitative approach. The data collection is done by using interviews, observations and documentation, to obtain accurate information about the material being studied. The data analysis uses data reduction and drawing conclusions. The results of this research show that orderly administration and management will be more testable. The (deployment) of the message, and there is a management action against ISO in realising a quality higher education.