Articles | Open Access | Vol. 4 No. 11 (2024): Volume 04 Issue 11

EVALUATING THE SOCIAL OBLIGATIONS OF QS STARS BEST-RANKED UNIVERSITIES: A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY

Balan Dumitru , Bucharest University of Economic Studies, UNESCO Department for Business Administration, Bucharest, Romania

Abstract

This comprehensive study evaluates the social obligations of universities recognized as the best-ranked by QS Stars, focusing on their commitment to social responsibility and community engagement. In an era where higher education institutions are increasingly expected to contribute positively to society, this research investigates how these universities define, implement, and assess their social responsibilities. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the study combines quantitative analysis of QS Stars metrics with qualitative data obtained from surveys and interviews with university administrators, faculty, and students. Key themes explored include community outreach initiatives, environmental sustainability practices, efforts towards promoting diversity and inclusion, and the ethical frameworks guiding university policies. The findings reveal that while many top-ranked universities exhibit significant dedication to social responsibility, there is considerable variation in the extent and effectiveness of their initiatives. The study concludes with recommendations for enhancing social responsibility practices across these institutions, positioning them as leaders in fostering positive societal impact.

Keywords

Social responsibility, QS Stars, Best-ranked universities

References

Afshar, A. (2005), “Community-campus partnerships for economic development: community perspectives”, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Discussion Papers. Retrieved from http://www.bos.frb.org/commdev/pcadp/2005/pcadp0502.pdf (Accessed on January 10, 2017).

Amaral, A. and Magalhães, A. (2002), “The emergent role of external stakeholders in European higher education governance”, In: Governing Higher Education: National Perspectives on Institutional Governance, pp. 1-21.10.1007/978-94-015-9946-7_1

Bender, G. (2008), “Exploring conceptual models for community engagement at Higher Education Institutions in South Africa”, Perspectives in Education, Vol. 26, No. 1, pp. 81-95.

Boyer, E.L. (1996), “The scholarship of engagement”, Journal of Public Services & Outreach, Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 11-20.10.2307/3824459

Callon, M. and Rabeharisoa (2003), “Research `in the wild` and the shaping of new social identities”, Technology in Society, Vol. 25, No. 2, pp. 193-204.10.1016/S0160-791X(03)00021-6

Clark, R.E. (1998), “Supported employment and managed care: Can they coexist?”, Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, Vol. 22, No. 1, pp. 62-68.10.1037/h0095263

Checkoway, B. (1995), “Six strategies of community change”, Community Development Journal, Vol. 30, pp. 2-20.10.1093/cdj/30.1.2

Dima, A.M., Vasilache, S., Ghinea, V. and Agoston, S. (2013), “A model of academic social responsibility”, Transylvanian Review of Administrative Sciences, No. 38, pp. 23-43.

Dudian, M. (2011), “Innovative clusters. The case of Romania”, Management Research and Practice, Vol. 3, No. 3, pp. 1-11.

Ercsey, I. (2017), “The role of customers’ involvement in value co-creation behavior. Is value co-creation the source of competitive advantage?”, Journal of Competitiveness, Vol. 9, No. 3, pp. 51-66.10.7441/joc.2017.03.04

Farrar, M. and Taylor, R. (2009), “University-community engagement”, In: Denton, S., Brown, S. (Eds.), A Practical Guide to University and College Management. Beyond Bureaucracy, Routledge, New York, pp. 247-265.

Hammersley, L. (2013), “Community-based service-learning: Partnerships of reciprocal exchange?”, Asia-Pacific Journal of Cooperative Education, Vol. 14, No. 3, pp. 171-184.

Article Statistics

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Copyright License

Download Citations

How to Cite

Balan Dumitru. (2024). EVALUATING THE SOCIAL OBLIGATIONS OF QS STARS BEST-RANKED UNIVERSITIES: A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY. Frontline Marketing, Management and Economics Journal, 4(11), 1–7. Retrieved from https://www.frontlinejournals.org/journals/index.php/fmmej/article/view/614