Fostering local sustainability: How higher education institutions advance SDGs through community engagement

At the midpoint of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) implementation, current progress underscores the need for a more community-driven approach to co-producing and implementing SDG-focused initiatives. Beyond their traditional roles in teaching and research, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have the potential to significantly impact local SDG efforts through outreach and engagement activities. This study examines the existing literature on HEIs’ contributions to SDG implementation via community engagement programs. Drawing from a thematic analysis, we propose an analytical framework to analyze and compare key characteristics, including modes, actors, SDG intensity, motivations, roles, and implementation strategies of HEIs’ community engagement initiatives. This framework is supported by comparative case studies from Taiwan/China, Brazil, and the United Kingdom (UK). The study reveals that HEI-initiated SDG implementation at the local level is comprehensive, addressing multiple SDGs with diverse actors and motivations within a polycentric ecosystem. By emphasizing HEI-led local SDG initiatives, this article provides the foundation for transformative SDG implementation by universities.