The Project: Theoretical Framework and Global Institutional Experience

Abstract

Goals of this book are to: improve the theoretical framework about university social responsibility (USR); disseminate the USR experience of a geographically diverse group of twelve universities; demonstrate the value of global exchange on this topic; further develop the sponsoring organization, the University Social Responsibility Network; and encourage and guide further research. The introductory chapter highlights key themes with respect to conceptualization of USR and discusses six common themes that are explored in the institutional case accounts: opportunities and challenges about university-community partnerships, processes and strategies of institutional change, national policies that are influencing USR, student programming and the impacts of these initiatives on students’ development, application of research to addressing societal problems, and the corporate social responsibility of universities—social responsibility impacts of university institutional policies and practices.