新作坊 Humanity Innovation and Social Practice

Since the launch of the University Social Responsibility (USR) Project in 2018, previous research has shown that higher education institutions can bring significant social impacts on local communities. However, there are some issues worth considering, for example, how do universities contribute expertise and experiences to local needs, how do they work with local communities to initiate social innovation projects, and how do they sustain themselves and facilitate sustainable local development. We suggest that empowerment and governance are undoubtedly important strategies when conducting community engagement. To explore strategies for facilitating empowerment and governance of local organizations, we conducted action research and analyze our practicing experiences about long-term care issue. This paper indicates that “education”, “empowerment”, and “extension” are crucial during the co-working process, which directly influence the motivation and the capacity of local organizations and communities. This case study provides a useful strategy (or know-how) for universities to disseminate and implement a set of general principles and specific values on social innovative projects.