University Social
Responsability (USR)
Bases & Implementation
Strategies
By: Guadalupe Bohorques Marchori
Nuria Mirto López
Carmen Uriol Egido
“Education is the most
powerful instrument that we
have to create a better world “
(Dalai Lama)
UNIVERSITY SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (USR) BASES AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES
Index:
1-What is RSC?
2-What kind of responsability Universities
should have?
3-The two basic points
4-What are the strategies for
implementation in the universities of
USR?
5- Conclusions
1-What is RSC?
If the European Commission Green Paper (2001)
defined CSR as "the voluntary integration by
companies of social and environmental concerns
in their business operations and in their
interaction with their stakeholders"
then we could define the USR as a voluntary
integration of universities in social and
environmental concerns, and commitment to
improvement.
UNIVERSITY SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (USR) BASES AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES
2- What kind of responsability
Universities should have?
The University, as a social agent and as a generator
and transmitter of knowledge can and should
contribute to the transformation of society in
"human society".
UNIVERSITY SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (USR) BASES AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES
3- The two basic points:
a) The responsibility of Universities as a
public or private institution
b) The responsibility of the University in
the implementation of human values
in their programs of studies.
UNIVERSITY SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (USR) BASES AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES
4- What are the strategies for implementation
in the universities (RSU) assuming that social
responsibility implies a commitment?
a) Education in
values
b) Research
c) Participatory
and transformative
action
d) Collaboration with
other entities
e) Communication
between the network of
universities
f) Coherence with the
values of the
University
g) Interaction with
the labour market
a ) Education in values
It is necessary to develop a consciousness both teachers and
students about the significance of social responsibility, through the
knowledge of the current situation in the world and the basic
legislation on the protection and guarantee of human rights.
b ) Research
In the field of research the work of both of undergraduate,
postgraduate and doctorate students could be redirected toward
projects with themes of social responsibility.
It will be useful collaboration with national and international network
of universities socially committed, allowing the exchange of
experiences as well as the teamwork of students from different
universities and disciplines.
c) Participatory and transformative action:
A team of volunteer students to practice carried out in public or private
social entity, associations or NGOs will be created.
These practices will be organized and supervised by a coordinator
appointed for that purpose.
Thus the student will have the opportunity of approaching reality and see
first hand the social problems, being direct participant and becoming
aware of their active role in settlement and transformation of reality.
In addition, once done the internship period the student wild be
encouraged to share their experience with their peers.
d) Collaboration with other entities:
It is important that the University signed agreements with different
foundations, institutions or other competent universities in the field of
the RSU, in order to promote the necessary actions to be part of the
national and international network of socially responsible universities.
e ) Communication between the network
of universities:
The network established with other universities, foundations or other
competent entities in MSW will allow communication and exchange of
experiences, resources and best practices, thus promoting the RSU
deployment strategies.
The fluent communication within the network will be essential to
advance development and the promotion of responsibility that assume
their components as actors of change in society.
f ) Coherence with the values of the
University:
The USR committed throughout the University as a whole, all grades and
all departments and services, thus implying a structural change, since it
supposes to carry out an ethical management, committed to the social
and environmental surroundings.
Responsibility of all actors in the University, is from teachers, staff of
different services, and students, meet the objectives of the USR.
g ) Interaction with the labour market:
Due to the global economic crisis the labor market is constantly changing,
so it is important to establish channels of communication with the
companies and professionals to determine the needs of the internal market,
and to guide the training of students.
It is indispensable to take account of the problems facing the society due to
the economic crisis, and get professionals ready to address those social
demands, finding an intermediate point between the demands of the
labour market and society as a whole.
EDUCATION
RESEARCH
ACTION
COLLABORATION
COMMUNICATION
COHERENCE
INTERACTION
SOCIAL
TRANSFORMATION
CONCLUSIONS:
 USR affects to all sector both public and private and
brings social, economic and environmental development.
Universities are very important part of the social change
and the future markets and they can give an influence in the
company world when their students are part of the market.
USR acts within an ethics framework that commits all
social agents.
USR means, to understand the need of create a new way of
educating in human values make business and where the
companies are part of the process of social and human
change.
Universities have the most
powerful instrument throughout
USR to transform society into
humanity and to create a better
world.