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Including the social responsibility of universities and sustainable development goals in the strategic plans of universities in Europe

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  • Katarzyna Pactwa
  • Justyna Woźniak
  • Katarzyna Jach
  • Anna Brdulak

Abstract

Social responsibility of higher education institutions (HEIs) and 2030 Agenda represent a new tool for improving the management of HEIs. This article aims to conduct an in‐depth study on the diagnosis of the integration of social responsibility guidelines (SR) and sustainable development goals (SDGs) into the strategic plans of Polish and European HEIs. The work shows connections and similarities between the UN Sustainable Development Goals, United Nation Global Compact Principles and the Polish declaration of social responsibility of universities and the forming on this basis the HEI's strategic documents. The methodology of the study was based on the content of open information published on the university's website and research questions addressed to two groups. First was Polish HEIs (N = 83) that have signed the Polish declaration of social responsibility by 2019, the other was European HEIs belonging to the United Nation Global Compact (N = 141). The results indicate that in the current strategic plans of Polish HEIs the process of integrating university social responsibility (USR) into strategic plans is visible at 61.6%, and 43.8% of strategic plans refer to SDGs, unlike for the foreign universities 37.2% and 62.8%.

Suggested Citation

  • Katarzyna Pactwa & Justyna Woźniak & Katarzyna Jach & Anna Brdulak, 2024. "Including the social responsibility of universities and sustainable development goals in the strategic plans of universities in Europe," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(5), pages 4593-4605, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:32:y:2024:i:5:p:4593-4605
    DOI: 10.1002/sd.2924
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Maria Teresa Nardo & Georgiana Cristina Codreanu & Fabiana Roberto, 2021. "Universities’ Social Responsibility through the Lens of Strategic Planning: A Content Analysis," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-16, November.
    2. Andreas Rasche & Sandra Waddock, 2014. "Global Sustainability Governance and the UN Global Compact: A Rejoinder to Critics," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 122(2), pages 209-216, June.
    3. Andrea Cuesta‐Claros & Shirin Malekpour & Rob Raven & Tahl Kestin, 2022. "Understanding the roles of universities for sustainable development transformations: A framing analysis of university models," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(4), pages 525-538, August.
    4. Christian Voegtlin & Nicola Pless, 2014. "Global Governance: CSR and the Role of the UN Global Compact," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 122(2), pages 179-191, June.
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    1. Katarzyna Jach & Krzysztof Hankiewicz, 2025. "Student Awareness of University Social Responsibility Initiatives: A Pilot Study at a Polish University," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(1), pages 1010-1020.

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