Origin

It has become a global trend for universities to focus on addressing public issues and providing social value through professional expertise when utilizing social resources. Bridging the gap between academic knowledge and practical application is now a priority, encouraging universities to step beyond academia to address societal issues and meet industry needs. The USR Program is promoted to respond to this trend.

The Ministry of Education expects universities to play critical roles as local think tanks driving regional development. By infusing academic energy into the development of local industries, community cultures, and urban versus remote areas, universities can promote regional development, drive local innovation, realize the value of universities, and fulfill their social responsibilities.

Purpose

The USR Program encourages universities to implement social responsibility, strengthening organic connections and positive collaboration between universities, local communities, and urban areas. With faculty and students connecting across disciplines, teams, and institutions, and leveraging resources from local governments, industries, and non-profits, the program aims to collectively advance industrial upgrades, cultural innovation, educational reform, and environmental sustainability.

Moreover, the USR Program aims to strengthen university ties with international academic and professional communities. Through partnerships, the program seeks to enable faculty to take up important roles within international academic communities and teaching and research networks, while introducing high-quality global resources, building role models for talent cultivation, and enhancing international mobility for the new generation of talent.

Strategies

1. Encourage faculty and students to address real-world issues by collaborating locally and internationally, fostering inter-university and interdisciplinary innovation, and creating values for social innovation.
2. Continue to intensify talent cultivation, facilitate dialogue between local knowledge and academia through systematic curriculum and innovative teaching methods, enhance the humanities and scientific literacy of faculty and students, and prepare professional talents for future societal changes.
3. Universities should leverage internal resources to create an interactive learning ecosystem with venues for practice, local organizations, businesses, and government agencies, and engage in social practice while aligning with teaching and research development and local needs.
4. Value feedback from stakeholders by assessing the program impact, creating mechanisms for continuous self-improvement, conducting regular reviews, and rolling adjustments of the program to deepen and implement the operation of the venue.
5. Promote exchanges and collaborative activities among faculty and students from different institutions and faculty communities across universities to facilitate the growth and reflection of university faculty and students on their experiences in social responsibility.