Education in the era of the Industrial Revolution 4.0 and Society 5.0 faces significant challenges related to strengthening the character of a tolerant young generation capable of appreciating social and cultural diversity. Technological developments demand learning innovations that focus not only on academic competencies but also on the formation of tolerance values and the ability to live in a multicultural society. This study aims to analyze the implementation of blended learning assisted by digital media enriched with ETHNO content as a strategy to mitigate intolerance in universities in South Sumatra. A sequential exploratory mixed methods approach was used to gain a comprehensive understanding. Qualitative data were collected through interviews, observations, and document analysis, then reinforced with quantitative data through questionnaires processed using statistical techniques. The findings indicate that the integration of local culture in digital learning can increase student empathy, reduce prejudice, and strengthen intercultural dialogue on campus. The quantitative results also show a significant relationship between the blended learning model and student tolerance levels with a correlation value of r = 0.72. This study provides strategic recommendations, including strengthening culture-based curricula, increasing lecturers' capacity in utilizing digital technology, and developing cross-ethnic collaborative activities. The contribution of this research is expected to support the realization of inclusive, humanistic, and character-based higher education in Indonesia.
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