Universities’ Social Responsibility through the Lens of Strategic Planning: A Content Analysis

Maria Teresa Nardo,Georgiana Cristina Codreanu,Fabiana Roberto

doi:10.3390/admsci11040139

Maria Teresa Nardo, Georgiana Cristina Codreanu + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci11040139

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Abstract

This paper examines the degree of social responsibility integration in Italian public universities’ medium and long-term planning documents. We adopted a qualitative approach, applying the content analysis technique to a selected sample of 20 strategic plans issued by Italian large and mega universities. The coding instrument was developed considering the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) contained in the United Nations 2030 Agenda. Therefore, we identified 17 categories and 103 key symbols. The analysis undertaken showed that to date, Italian public universities still pay little attention in their planning documents to objectives regarding the multiple dimensions of Social Responsibility, mainly in relation to environmental issues, a failure detrimental to University Social Responsibility implementation and achievement. However, there is a greater sensitivity to Social Responsibility issues in some universities’ planning documents, therefore also more mature practices can be identified, showing universities that have institutionalized the concept of sustainability in their planning documents.

Highlights

The coding instrument applied in this study recorded the use or otherwise of an individual key symbol within 20 strategic plans issued by Italian public universities and selected for the analysis
(SDG 9), which in most cases concerned key symbols relating to the quality, modernization and upgrading of the university’s infrastructure; “Partnership” (SDG 17), which concerned, key symbols referring to collaborations with public and private bodies and other universities, for the implementation of initiatives aimed at promoting development in its multiple dimensions
Looking more deeply into the results identified more mature practices, showing universities who had institutionalized the concept of sustainability in their planning documents

Summary

Introduction

SR is a concept that originally referred to private companies (Adams 2004; Fontaine 2013; Berber et al 2014), in the last decade it has become applicable to any organization, both private and public (Bokhari 2017; Moon 2004; Moon and Vogel 2008; Formánková et al 2017; Kouatli 2019; Ogarcă and Puiu 2017; Rodríguez-Bolívar et al 2015). Going back to its origins, from the perspective of private companies, Davis and Blomstrom (1966) defined SR as “a person’s obligation to consider the effects of his decisions and actions on the whole social system. Businessmen apply social responsibility when they consider the needs and interest of others who may be affected by business actions. In so doing, they look beyond their firm’s narrow economic and technical interests”

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Conclusion