Empirical Validation of the Teuku Umar Leadership Scale: A PLS-SEM Approach Grounded in Local and Islamic Values

This study validates the Teuku Umar Leadership (TUL) scale, a leadership instrument grounded in local and Islamic values within the Indonesian context. Data were collected from 551 teachers in West Aceh District using multistage random sampling and analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS 4.1.0.9. The results confirm that 40 of 49 indicators across eight dimensions are valid and reliable, with brave, virtuous, and intelligent traits contributing most strongly to the construct. The findings support the empirical robustness of the TUL model and offer a culturally grounded framework for leadership development and educational practice.