University Social Responsibility during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Universities’ Case in the BRICS Countries

Abedalqader Rababah,Vadim V Ponkratov,Nadezhda N Bashkirova,Tatyana I Volkova,Angelina O Zekiy,Marina I Ivleva,Veronica M Grebennikova,Natalya I Nikitina,Zhanna R Gardanova,Izabella D Elyakova,Nikolay V Kuznetsov,Marina V Vasiljeva

doi:10.3390/su13137035

Abstract

University social responsibility (USR) is an important assessment criterion of the QS Stars. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the social orientation of universities as intellectual leaders in the development of society gains particular importance. The research purpose is to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the university activity directions in the framework of strategies (USR). An empirical assessment of the level and complementary factors of USR in the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) was conducted, using the method of integral and expert assessment. Grounded on scoring according to the principal component analysis, the structure of the factors of the USR development in the BRICS countries was determined. Multifactor regression modeling allowed substantiating the priority of factors stimulating the development of USR in the BRICS countries in modern conditions and arguing the main barriers to introducing the concept of social responsibility into university activities and expanding the stakeholders’ circle in it. The research results showed that the university management creativity, effective communication with the public and stakeholders, the quality of the educational process and the development of scientific activities stimulate USR development in the BRICS countries and should be used as the basis for the strategic planning of activities in the context of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. Conceptual trends in the USR development can be useful for universities in the studied countries when adapting strategic development plans regarding the social needs of modern society.

Highlights

Challengesfor forUniversitiesUniversitiesduring during the the Pandemic PandemicThehigher highereducation educationsystem systemininthe theBRICSBRICScountries, countries,in inparticular, particular,universities, universities,play playaThe a fundamental role in the formation and implementation of educational programs and fundamental role in the formation and implementation of educational programs andare are responsiblefor forensuring ensuring their quality and compliance with current realities.largeresponsible their quality and compliance with current realities.TheThe large-scale scale COVID-19 pandemic spread has transformed the traditional life way, but COVID-19 pandemic spread has transformed the traditional life way, and the the way people receive higher education and education delivery [1,2]
In the BRICS countries, countries, where higher education has become a basic social norm and an important tool where higher education has become a basic social norm and an important tool for social for social and economic development, universities have faced a whole system of chaland economic development, universities have faced a whole system of challenges to ensure lenges to ensure the educational process quality (Figure 1)
The ranking of indicators according to the degree of their significance when assessing the University social responsibility (USR) and the coefficients of relative significance in the opinion of each expert is given in Appendix B, Tables A2 and A3

Summary

Introduction

TheThe large-scale scale COVID-19 pandemic spread has transformed the traditional life way, but COVID-19 pandemic spread has transformed the traditional life way, and the the way people receive higher education and education delivery [1,2]. In the BRICS way people receive higher education and education delivery [1,2]. In the BRICS countries, countries, where higher education has become a basic social norm and an important tool where higher education has become a basic social norm and an important tool for social for social and economic development, universities have faced a whole system of chaland economic development, universities have faced a whole system of challenges to ensure lenges to ensure the educational process quality (Figure 1). Challenges forfor universities during the the pandemic in the countries (developed by the basedbased on [3,4])

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Discussion

Conclusion