The Impact of Social Responsibility on Students’ Perceptions in Higher Education Institutions: A Theoretical Synthesis of Recent Research and Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

ABSTRACT The objective of this study is to analyze international scientific publications related to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and higher education institutions, providing a map of the connection found in the studies published on these areas. CSR has become increasingly important for the creation of value in an organization and this study aims to understand how universities act to build a responsible approach in their management activities, education, research programs, and sustainability. To do this, we employed a three-step research approach: 1) We used bibliometric techniques to analyze 1,119 articles and present a comprehensive contextual picture of students’ perception of university social responsibility research. 2) We conducted an extensive literature review demonstrating the evolution of concepts, variables, and studies. 3) A subsequent content analysis of the 10 most recent and relevant academic articles was carried out to investigate and identify potential opportunities for future research. It was possible to analyze the maps by constructing and visualizing bibliometric networks using VOSviewer. The results make it clear that growing higher education institutions need to invest in CSR to attract and retain stakeholders. The impact of social responsibility maximizes the relationship between them, having a positive impact on students’ perceptions, as well as a better reputation and competitive advantage. In today’s environment, there is a strong relationship between innovation and market orientation in higher education institutions, and it is necessary to identify not only the perceptions of students but also of other stakeholder groups.