This study aims to assess how university social responsibility (USR) can advance the United Nations (UN) Decade of Ocean Science (2021–2030) by evaluating the Excellent Neighbor Fishermen Build-up Project (ENFBUP) at National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology (NKUST), and identify the mechanisms through which USR contributes to ocean governance.
Social impact assessment (SIA) embedded in a theory of change (ToC) framework. Mixed-methods design integrating surveys and semi-structured interviews with faculty, assistants, students, aquaculture farmers and local organizations. Triangulation with objective indicators, including program visibility, resource mobilization and aquaculture performance metrics, to capture both perceived and measurable outcomes.
USR participation strengthened interdisciplinary learning, enhanced faculty–industry collaboration, promoted eco-friendly aquaculture practices and deepened community engagement. Objective indicators showed increased visibility, additional resources secured and improved aquaculture performance. These outcomes align with Ocean Decade Challenge 3 (sustainable blue food systems) and Challenge 10 (restoring society’s relationship with the ocean). The project functioned as a boundary-spanning platform that fostered cross-sector partnerships and supported science diplomacy.
This study is limited by its focus on a single case, NKUST’s ENFBUP initiative, which constrains the generalizability of findings beyond the Taiwanese coastal context. Although the integrated SIA–ToC approach allows for a structured assessment of multi-stakeholder social impacts, the analysis primarily captures observed and perceived outcomes within the project period. As discussed in the study, some anticipated economic and policy-level effects were not fully realized. Despite these limitations, the findings empirically demonstrate how institutionalized USR can function as a governance mechanism linking local sustainability practices with the objectives of the UN Ocean Decade.
The findings suggest that institutionalized USR initiatives can support coastal sustainability by embedding long-term university–community partnerships into governance structures. As demonstrated by ENFBUP, sustained trust building, knowledge co-production and capacity-building activities facilitated the adoption of eco-friendly aquaculture practices and strengthened stakeholder collaboration. The integration of teaching, research and community engagement enabled universities to act as intermediaries connecting local practice with policy frameworks such as the UN Ocean Decade. These results indicate that data-driven performance management and multi-stakeholder collaboration are critical for maintaining continuity and achieving cumulative social impact in coastal sustainability initiatives.
This study indicates that long-term, institutionalized USR initiatives can strengthen social capital in coastal communities by fostering trust-based relationships among universities, local industries and community stakeholders. The ENFBUP case shows that sustained engagement and knowledge co-production enhanced stakeholder participation, community empowerment and ocean literacy. By positioning farmers, students and faculty as co-creators rather than passive recipients, the initiative supported inclusive governance and collective problem-solving. These social outcomes contributed to improved collaboration, shared ownership of sustainability goals and increased community capacity to engage with ocean-related challenges aligned with the UN Ocean Decade.
Introduces an integrated SIA–ToC evaluation of a marine-focused USR initiative, demonstrating how universities operationalize social and environmental responsibility within institutional governance while bridging science, policy and practice. Provides actionable insights for policymakers and higher-education leaders on designing USR to deliver measurable social impacts, strengthen sustainable blue food systems and advance long-term marine sustainability under the Ocean Decade.
