The role of internal and external resources of university in shaping students academic identity

New evolutions in higher education system have changed function and meaning of values as well as academic disciplinary communities. As a result of such changes, on one hand, a traditional and internal sources of identification has lost its power to introduce students to themselves, and on the other hand, new external resources have emerged and due to its pluralistic and flexible nature, has challenged traditional resources The main purpose of the current research was to examine typology of academic identity based on the role of internal and external (Internet) resources. The current research was a survey study based on a sample of 346 students at the University of Isfahan, who were selected among different discipline through Biglan typology and non-proportional stratified sampling method. The results of study indicated an uneven development of academic identity types so that legitimation identity had more development among students compared to resistance and project identity and had been more affected by internal resources compared to two other mentioned types. Resistance identity was more influenced by external resources. The project identity was intermediate in legitimation and resistance identities so that it had a positive association with both types of identity sources. Therefore, due to the practical and critical features of project identities and a more balanced position in relation to internal and external resources, empowering students and creating appropriate contexts for development of project identity is indispensable.