Can university social responsibility drive internationalization? The case of non-metropolitan universities in Taiwan and their alignment with regional revitalization

Purpose 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 local or non-metropolitan universities in Taiwan can effectively achieve internationalization objectives through commitment to the regional revitalization agenda and engagement in University Social Responsibility (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. Design/methodology/approach This study employed a qualitative approach via document analysis and semi-structured interviews to perceive the linkage between internationalization, regional revitalization and the Ministry of Education'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. All selected institutions are located outside the country's major metropolitan centers and are geographically distributed across the northern, central, southern and eastern regions of Taiwan. The university president, vice president and senior administrators of eight universities were invited to share their opinions on the university's internationalization policies, USR program implementation and challenges encountered via semi-structured interviews. Findings There are four major findings. First, according to institutional mission, alignment with their strengths and USR program engagement, the study concluded there are four implementation types of USR programs. Regional hub institutions showed a stronger tendency toward international and cross-sectoral collaboration by comparing mission-oriented, market-driven and community service-based types. Second, there was a lack of coordination among efforts in internationalization, USR programs and regional revitalization, largely due to a fragmented administrative structure – except in cases of a regional hub. Third, a top-down approach is regarded as a key enabler for the success of their USR programs. Fourth, limited faculty engagement and a lack of university leadership support were the two biggest challenges. Originality/value In contrast to the prevailing strategies adopted by prestigious universities in Asia, local or non-metropolitan universities in Taiwan are exploring alternative approaches to establish their legitimacy in internationalization efforts. These efforts are closely aligned with national priorities, particularly regional revitalization, as promoted through USR programs. However, constrained by limited financial and human resources, these institutions face a significant gap in both internationalization capacity and local engagement. This empirical study can contribute to the higher education discourse by highlighting this critical and underexplored issue.