University social responsibility models and the main challenges for implementation in business schools

Abstract

Social responsibility (SR) has become a global phenomenon due to multiple events that transgress the boundaries of acceptable social and respectful coexistence with sustainable development, associated with unethical performance. Therefore, it is important that the (SR) is rooted in the beliefs of the future leaders of business and society. Universities can not be abstracted from this need in a context that shows us again and again, that their graduates have to take the lead and generate changes needed so sustainability will not only be a wish, but also a reality.

The objective of this work is to study models of University Social Responsibility (USR) and to present the challenges for implementation, mainly in business schools. To meet this goal, we both introduce the main existing models of USR and relate to each other, to determine similarities or differences.

By analyzing the models and contrasting them with the Chilean reality, we present the challenges for the implementation of the USR in higher education institutions. Finally, some examples of initiatives specifically designed for business schools are presented.

Among the results, we can highlight the recognition of the need for the USR is a priority at the strategic level, and as a result, the need to introduce an office of USR that has resources to implement such initiatives. There is also a need for introducing USR periodic reports by responsibility centers for ensuring transparency, comparability, monitoring and compliance.