University social responsibility: the present and future trends based on bibliometric analysis

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to review university social responsibility (USR) using a well-known quantitative approach of bibliometric analysis. Compared to corporate social responsibility (CSR), USR is in its infancy stage, requiring further exploration of its meaning and impact toward higher education institutions (HEIs).Design/methodology/approachA total of 306 publications and 9,530 cited references were retrieved from the Web of Science database. Bibliographic coupling analysis was applied to uncover present themes, while co-word analysis was used to predict future trends.FindingsFindings suggested that themes are centralized toward the impact of USR on HEIs. USR is important for HEIs to attain excellence in today's challenging business environment.Research limitations/implicationsUSR could develop HEIs into world-renowned institutions by establishing a good reputation and engaging with the broader community, locally and internationally. USR is regarded as HEIs' new value proposition in marketing its brand within the competitive environment in higher education.Originality/valueThis study is the first that reviews USR by extracting the knowledge structure and providing visualization on the implicit themes of the subject interest.

University Social Responsibility as Part of Sustainable Development in Latin America: A Study of Scientific Production in the Last 20 Years

“…Where research is framed through policy perspectives of impact management; service-learning; theories; approaches and strategies [5] and being a recent field of study [17]. It is in its initial stage and therefore requires further exploration and analysis to predict future trends [18]. Based on the above, it is relevant to evaluate the trend of research on university social responsibility, since it is necessary to identify possible avenues for future research that could be significant to advance in the consolidation of university social responsibility [6].…”