University Social Responsibility during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Universities’ Case in the BRICS Countries

Abedalqader Rababah, Natalya I. Nikitina, Veronica M. Grebennikova, Zhanna R. Gardanova, Angelina O. Zekiy, Vadim V. Ponkratov, Nadezhda N. Bashkirova, Nikolay V. Kuznetsov, Tatyana I. Volkova, Marina V. Vasiljeva, Marina I. Ivleva and Izabella D. Elyakova
Additional contact information
Abedalqader Rababah: Faculty of Business, Sohar University, P.O. Box 44, Sohar P.C 311, Oman
Natalya I. Nikitina: Interdisciplinary Research Laboratory, Research Institute for Advanced Directions and Technologies, Russian State Social University, 129226 Moscow, Russia
Veronica M. Grebennikova: Department of Pedagogy and Psychology, Faculty of Pedagogy, Psychology and Communication, Kuban State University, 350040 Krasnodar, Russia
Zhanna R. Gardanova: Department of Psychotherapy, Faculty of Clinical Psychology and Social Sciences, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, 117997 Moscow, Russia
Angelina O. Zekiy: Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
Vadim V. Ponkratov: Department of Public Finance, Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, 125993 Moscow, Russia
Nadezhda N. Bashkirova: Higher School of State Audit, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119234 Moscow, Russia
Nikolay V. Kuznetsov: Department of Finance and Credit, State University of Management, 109542 Moscow, Russia
Tatyana I. Volkova: Department of Economics and Production Organization, Bauman Moscow State Technical University, 105005 Moscow, Russia
Marina V. Vasiljeva: Top Management, Atlantic Science and Technology Academic Press, Boston, MA 01233, USA
Marina I. Ivleva: Humanitarian Training Center, History and Philosophy Department, Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, 115054 Moscow, Russia
Izabella D. Elyakova: Department of Economics and Finance, North-Eastern Federal University, 677000 Yakutsk, Sakha Republic, Russia

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 13, 1-29

Abstract: University social responsibility (USR) is an important assessment criterion of the QS Stars. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the social orientation of universities as intellectual leaders in the development of society gains particular importance. The research purpose is to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the university activity directions in the framework of strategies (USR). An empirical assessment of the level and complementary factors of USR in the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) was conducted, using the method of integral and expert assessment. Grounded on scoring according to the principal component analysis, the structure of the factors of the USR development in the BRICS countries was determined. Multifactor regression modeling allowed substantiating the priority of factors stimulating the development of USR in the BRICS countries in modern conditions and arguing the main barriers to introducing the concept of social responsibility into university activities and expanding the stakeholders’ circle in it. The research results showed that the university management creativity, effective communication with the public and stakeholders, the quality of the educational process and the development of scientific activities stimulate USR development in the BRICS countries and should be used as the basis for the strategic planning of activities in the context of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. Conceptual trends in the USR development can be useful for universities in the studied countries when adapting strategic development plans regarding the social needs of modern society.

Keywords: university social responsibility (USR); universities in the BRICS countries; COVID-19 pandemic; higher education system sustainability; university development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/13/7035/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/13/7035/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:13:p:7035-:d:580272

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().