University Social Responsibility: Croatian Perspective

Authors

  • Željka Kadlec Virovitica University of Applied Sciences
  • Mirna Leko Šimić J. J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, Croatia

Keywords:

social responsibility, university, content analysis, Croatia, ISO 26000 guide

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to get insight into the university social responsibility (USR) context in Croatia and identify its components and implementation. The study uses content analysis in the revision of universities’ websites and its contents related to social responsibility. The analysis relies on ISO 26000 Guide and considers seven components of social responsibility: organizational governance, human rights, labor practices, environment, fair operating practices, consumer issues and community involvement and development. Results indicate that Croatian universities still do not sufficiently perceive USR importance – neither in creating, practicing, nor reporting. Croatian universities perceive their social responsibility mostly as related to primary stakeholders (students and institution management and staff), and to their primary roles of education and research. The importance of contribution to the community is still insufficiently recognized.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Afrić Rakitovac, K. & Žužić, A. (2014). Promicanje društveno odgovornog poslovanja putem sustava visokog obrazovanja. Hrvatski poslovni savjet za održivi razvoj – HR PSOR, 6th Conference on CSR, (pp. 15-38), Zagreb, Croatia. https://www.hrpsor.hr/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/ZbornikWEB_OPTIMIZIRAN.pdf

Barroso, F.G.T. (2007). Responsabilidad social empresarial y sugerencias para su aplicación en instituciones educativas. Investigación Universitaria Multidisciplinar, 6(6), 48-54. https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=2695342

Chen, S.H., Nasongkhla, J. & Donaldson, J.A. (2015). University Social Responsibility (USR): Identifying an Ethical Foundation within Higher Education Institutions: The Turkish Inline Journal of Educational Technology -TOJET, 14(4), 165-172. http://www.tojet.net/articles/v14i4/14416.pdf

Cunha Bastos, F.C., Barbosa de Souza, M.J. & Hoffmann, E.M. (2019). University Social Responsibility: An Analysis from the Carroll’s Model, Revista de Negócios, 24(3), 27-48. https://proxy.furb.br/ojs/index.php/rn/article/view/7754

Ćulum, B. & Ledić, J. (2011). Civilna misija sveučilišta u Hrvatskoj: element u tragovima. Društvena istraživanja, 20(4), 1206-1210. http://dx.doi.org/10.5559/di.20.4.15

Ćulum, B. & Turk, M. (2012). Akademska profesija i doprinos razvoju zajednice i društva. In: Ledić, J. (ed). Promjene u akademskoj profesiji: odgovor na izazove u društvu, (pp.119-149). Rijeka: Filozofski fakultet u Rijeci.

Esfijani, A., Hussain, F., Chang, E. (2013). University social responsibility ontology, International Journal of Engineering Intelligent Systems, 21(4), 271-281 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235606167_University_Social_Responsibility_Ontology

Fryzel, B. (2011). Building stakeholder relations and corporate social responsibility: A sensemaking perspective. Chippenham: Palgrave Macmillan.

Jongbloed, B., Enders, J., & Salerno, C. (2008). Higher education and its communities: Interconnections, interdependencies and a research agenda. Higher education, 56(3), 303-324 http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10734-008-9128-2

Leydesdorff, L. & Etzkowitz, H. (1998). The triple helix as a model for innovation studies. Science and public policy, 25(3), 195-203 https://doi.org/10.1093/spp/25.3.195

King, B.G., & Whetten, D.A. (2008). Rethinking the relationship between reputation and legitimacy: A social actor conceptualization. Corporate Reputation Review, 11 (3), 192-207 https://doi.org/10.1057/crr.2008.16

Leko Šimić, M. & Čarapić, H. (2009). Corporate social responsibility in Croatia: nonprofit activities for profitable goals. Proceedings of 8th IAPNM congress: New Approaches in Public and Nonprofit Marketing, research & practice, (pp. 1-9). Valencia: Universitat de Valencia, Facultat d’Economia

Leko Šimić, M. & Štimac, H. (2011). Internal CSR – the perceptions and attitudes of Croatian employees. Proceedings of 10th IAPNM congress: The role of public and nonprofit marketing on the new sustainable development model, (pp. 1-6). Porto: Instituto Superior de Contabilidade e Administracao do Porto. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321875923_INTERNAL_CSR_-_THE_PERCEPTIONS_AND_ATTITUDES_OF_CROATIAN_EMPLOYEES

Nejati, M., Shafaei, A., Salamzadeh, Y. & Daraei, M. (2011. Corporate social responsibility and universities: A study of top 10 world universities websites, African Journal of Business Management 5(2), 440-447. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/241764147_Corporate_Social_Responsibility_in_Croatia_Nonprofit_Activities_for_Profitable_Goals?_sg%5B0%5D=hE9DzA_cNCNhLoaexzzpho4x7na9j9KQk-gIrLeghCL9ZMkocutqAMqIfj5ulK4Chz_1dfyh1aHDXtOFCXVW-Izd-f038cq_TAgK85T2.TGONLmuEme2zlJ8EHacYjOmvD5KRp0QGby8fDWJ1ySay0Tt1vlrs4i27t7UezG1ui3d81hbIlALzNUM-cgOhkQ

Oliveira, R.d., Leitão, J. & Alves, H. (2020). Corporate Governance and Sustainability in HEIs. In: Sengupta, E., Blessinger, P. & Yamin, T.S. (Ed.), Introduction to Sustainable Development Leadership and Strategies in Higher Education (Innovations in Higher Education Teaching and Learning, 22), (pp. 177-191). Emerald Publishing Limited, Bingley. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2055-364120200000022016

Ostojić, M. (2020). Brendiranje privatnih visokoškolskih institucija prema činiteljima Aakerovog modela, Ph.D. Thesis, JJ Strossmayer University of Osijek, Croatia. http://www.ices.hr/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Digitalna-verzija-disertacije_Ostoji%C4%87_Martina.pdf

Plungpongpan, J., Tiangsoongnern, L. & Speece, M. (2016). University Social Responsibility and Brand Consideration for Universities. In: 2016 Annual Conference of the Emerging Markets ,(pp. 6-8). Bangkok: Chulalongkorn University

Poock, M. C. & Lefond, D. (2001). How college-bound prospects perceive university web sites: Findings, implications, and turning browsers into applicants. College and University, 77(1), 15

Vallaeys, F. (2014). University Social Responsibility: A Mature and Responsible Definition, In: GUNI Report 2014, No 5, Higher Education in The World, (pp. 88-96). https://www.guninetwork.org/files/ii.4_1.pdf

Vázquez, J.L., Lanero, A. & Lopez Aza, C. (2015). Students Experiences of University Social Responsibility and Perceptions of Satisfaction and Quality of Service, Ekonomski vjesnik/Econviews, 28, Special Issue, pp. 25-39. https://hrcak.srce.hr/ojs/index.php/ekonomski-vjesnik/article/view/3091 Wasserbauer, B., Novaković, P. & Vučetić, M. (2011). Akademska zajednica u razvoju i promoviranju društveno odgovornog poslovanja. 1st International Conference on entrpreneurial learning, Zagreb, 2nd June, 95-103. Accessed 25 January 2020 to: https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/192170

Wigmore-Alvarez, A. & Ruiz-Lozano, M. (2012). University Social Responsibility (USR) in the global context. Business and Professional Ethics Journal, 31(4), 465-498. https://doi.org/10.5840/bpej2012313/424

Wilson, J. L. & Meyer, K. A. (2009). Higher education websites: The “virtual face” of diversity. Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, 2(2), 91-102. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/a0015443

Youness, H.R. (2012). Social responsibility of the Lebanese private universities: A qualitative study of Notre Dame university using document analysis of publicly available data. An Abstract and a Project Presented to the Graduate Faculty of Saint Louis University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Education, UMI Number: 3553277

Downloads

Published

2021-12-20

How to Cite

Kadlec, Željka, & Leko Šimić, M. (2021). University Social Responsibility: Croatian Perspective. Responsibility and Sustainability, 6(1), 57–66. Retrieved from https://responsibility-sustainability.org/index.php/R-S/article/view/92

Issue

Section

Original Articles