Can University Social Responsibility Drive Internationalization? The Case of Non-Metropolitan Universities in Taiwan and Their Alignment with Regional Revitalization

• In Event: Rethinking Internationalization: Lessons from Practice

Proposal

I introduction
In the context of globalization, many higher education system reform efforts are closely linked to global markets and technology changes , due to regional initiatives, national agenda, and local demand. At the forefront of higher education changes, internationalization strategies are often regarded as an essential developmental imperative rather than a discretionary pursuit (Cattaneo et al., 2016) to foster global outreach. In order to “find new ways to distinguish themselves on the international map and gain greater visibility” (Cattaneo et al., 2016, p. 328), universities are encouraged to expand international activities and intensify global partnerships in varying approaches (Altbach & Knight 2007; Horta, 2009; Mok, 2014). Thus, there has been a growing call for a more inclusive, context-sensitive model of internationalization. This shift reflects a broader understanding of the dual roles of universities as both global actors and local agents. In recent years, the Taiwan government has leveraged University Social Responsibility (USR) as a policy instrument to align higher education with regional revitalization goals, fostering locally engaged, socially responsible universities that not only pursue global academic excellence but also serve as engines of regional resilience and innovation (MOE, 2025). Different from the common strategies at prestigious universities in Asia, local or non-metropolitan universities in Taiwan attempt to seek a new way to secure their internationalization legitimacy in the national context, in alignment with regional revitalization throughout the USR programs (Yang, 2023).
Due to constraints in financial and human resources, non-metropolitan universities face a significant research gap characterized by limited internationalization capacity and local engagement. Thus, it is worth examining whether if local or non-metropolitan universities in Taiwan can effectively achieve internationalization objectives through commitment to regional revitalization agenda and engagement in USR initiatives. Thus, this study aims to explore the alignment between internationalization, regional revitalization, and USR programs in eight selected universities located in non-metropolitan areas of Taiwan.
2. Literature
Higher education internationalization, regional revitalization and university social responsibility under the globnacal concept
Despite the high costs and significant investment required for internationalization, it is often the prestigious universities that benefit most from such initiatives; In contrast, non-ranked and local institutions often face greater challenges in accessing the benefits of internationalization, due to limited resources, weaker global visibility, and constrained institutional capacity (Altbach & Knight, 2007; Marginson, 2022). Nevertheless, it would be challenging for local and non-metropolitan universities to tailor their internationalization strategies to the national agenda and local needs. As Horiuchi and Takahashi (2016) found that universities located in peripheral regions, far from global cities like Tokyo, often face challenges in enhancing internationalization, such as attracting international students, research funding, and global partnerships; vice versa, their overall visibility and competitiveness would be diminished. Yet, local universities in some contexts still attempted to explore innovative approaches to internationalize themselves, aligning with national agenda, such as engaging University Social Responsibility (USR) programs (Chou & Ching, 2012; Hou, 2023; Mok, 2014). Currently, some contexts in Asia started to request universities to promote regional revitalization via internationalizing their university social responsibility projects, particularly in international student recruitment and cross-border research collaborations (Government of Japan, 2025; National Development Council, 2024; MOE, 2025).
Profiles of Taiwan higher education by the Taipei area and non-metropolitan regions
Due to demographic changes, there was an occurrence of disparities in the number of institutions, students and academic staff in the Taipei metropolitan area and non-metropolitan regions (Department of Statistics, 2025). The number of HEIs in the Taipei area remained stable over the past two decades. In contrast, the number of HEIs in non-metropolitan regions started to drop in 2012. Beginning in 2013, a gradual decline occurred. Consequently, the number of HEIs in non-metropolitan regions declined from 117 in 2013 to 101 in 2024, marking a 12.5% reduction. From 2005 to 2016, the total student population remained steady at around 1.33 million, with over 900,000 students in non-metropolitan regions. Within the Glonacal framework, universities in Taiwan attempt to integrate global engagement into community-oriented initiatives throughout internationalization-based USR programs. Higher education institutions (HEIs) in non-metropolitan regions of Taiwan have encountered growing challenges due to a significant decline in both student and faculty populations. In response, the non-metropolitan universities were facilitated to engage the MOE’s USR programs in alignment regional revitalization by collaborating with their industries and international partners. Subsequently, the non-metropolitan universities in Taiwan are increasingly motivated to develop reciprocal partnerships with local communities and industries, facilitating the exchange of knowledge that supports both academic advancement and regional development (Yang, 2023).
3. Methodology
This study employed a qualitative approach via document analysis and semi-structured interviews to perceive the linkage between Internationalization, Regional Revitalization, and MOE’s USR Programs and approaches adopted by eight non-metropolitan universities in Taiwan. The purposive sampling was applied to select eight case universities in the study. . Between July 2024 and January 2025, 8 participants were invited and semi-structured interviews were conducted via face-to-face or online. Each interview last from 60 to 90 minutes. All interviews were transcribed verbatim and used as one of the major sources of data analysis.
4. Major findings and conclusion
First, the most cases in the Taiwanese context reveal a persistent disconnect between internationalization and USR, which has constrained their collective impact on regional revitalization, with the notable exception of designated regional hub institutions. Moreover, evidence suggests that institutions employing a top-down governance approach tend to achieve more favorable outcomes in this regard. Nonetheless, persistent challenges, such as unstable public funding, inadequate cross-sectoral coordination, and insufficient faculty and student engagement, continue to impede the effective implementation of USR programs at non-metropolitan universities.
Currently, there is limited evidence of USR programs incorporating international dimensions within the local context. The Taiwanese case illustrates that integrating internationalization initiatives into USR programs presents significant challenges for non-metropolitan universities, particularly those with limited resources and a primary focus on Bud and Root types. These findings may also be relevant to other higher education institutions in Asia. Successfully aligning internationalization with USR programs and regional revitalization within the glonacal framework remains a complex and time-intensive process for universities.

Authors

• Angela Yung Chi Hou, National Chengchi University

• I-Chun Vera Hsiao

• YITING HSU, Higher Education Evaluation & Accreditation Council of Taiwan

• I-Jung Grace Lu, National Central University