This focus is the most obvious difference between community colleges and the "continuing education" classes at universities, art classes, and community education groups. The stated goal of Taiwan's community colleges is the "training of a modern citizenry" and-by establishing socially-minded courses-giving the citizenry the knowledge and ability to serve society.
因此社大與一般才藝、社教機構或大學推廣教育最大的不同，是以「培養現代公民」為辦學目標，鼓勵開辦社團課程，培養社區學員參與公共事務的能力，以形成公民社會。