Indigenous knowledge integrated system for sustainable university industry linkage and community development

Abstract

Indigenous community knowledge is indeed essential for the sustainable development of community and University-Industry Linkage (UIL) initiatives. It provides valuable local contextualized expertise, engages local indigenous stakeholders, bridges the gap between academia, industry, and the community, incorporates local traditions and indigenous cultural practices, and creates a long-term impact on society, universities, and industries towards achieving sustainable development goals. Therefore, this study aims to examine the existing indigenous knowledge models for sustainable UIL and community development, thereby developing a unique indigenous knowledge model showing how it transforms the UIL and community development to sustainable development through integrated systems nexus. The study utilizes an in-depth literature review as its methodological approach, examining existing data from literature and conceptual frameworks of innovation development models. The results obtained from this comprehensive review indicate that many research findings have portrayed indigenous knowledge as a primitive method of knowledge sharing. However, the findings of this current research, along with a few other studies, demonstrate that indigenous knowledge serves as a foundation and baseline for UIL and community development, aligned with indigenous culture. This allows for the easy communication and diffusion of knowledge to the user community through their native way of life. The findings have also revealed the dynamic interaction among indigenous communities, industry, universities, and government, showing how these stakeholders collaborate synergistically to achieve sustainable development goals for both the community and UIL initiatives. The model is distinctive in that it introduces the Indigenous Quadruple Helix Nexus Model, which provides a novel perspective on contemporary knowledge. This model highlights the interplay and collaboration among indigenous communities, industry, universities, and government, emphasizing the unique contributions and interactions of each stakeholder group in shaping and advancing knowledge in the present context. In conclusion, this study has assessed the existing literatures related to indigenous knowledge and its linkage with UIL and introduced a unique helix model that integrated the community, industry, university and government.

https://doi.org/10.34105/j.kmel.2025.17.008