Sitohang,
Susanne Andrea H

Island identities are shaped by a combination of local culture, environment, history, and external influences. They reflect how island residents relate to their unique island settings and how they express their cultural and personal identities within that context. Indonesia, an archipelagic nation with over 17,000 islands, offers a particularly rich setting for exploring these identities. This research focuses on Indonesian college students at Universitas Kristen Indonesia, examining how these young people from diverse islands—Java, Bali, Sumatra, Sulawesi, and Papua—perceive and express their island identities. Given Indonesia's complex socio-cultural landscape, which includes a vast array of local traditions and modern influences, this study explores how traditional cultural elements and contemporary factors, such as globalization and digital media, shape the self-perceptions and social practices of these students. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative data from semi-structured interviews and focus groups with quantitative data from surveys to provide a nuanced understanding of island identity. Additionally, the study analyzes digital content from social media platforms, blogs, and vlogs to capture how students articulate their identities in the digital era. The goal is to uncover how the diverse cultural backgrounds of students influence their island identities and how these identities evolve within the academic and social environment of Universitas Kristen Indonesia. By comparing experiences and identities across different islands, the research aims to highlight both the unique and shared aspects of island identity. The findings will contribute to a deeper understanding of the intersection between traditional and modern influences, with implications for cultural policy, educational practices, and community development. This research underscores the pivotal role of higher education in shaping and reflecting the diverse identities of Indonesian youth.