A self-assessment tool for social responsibility in higher education. Reporting on a national policy development process in Portugal

Fonseca, Susana; Fernandes, J.L.

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.26/47620

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Authors

Fonseca, Susana

Fernandes, J.L.

Abstract(s)

Purpose – Providing higher education institutions (HEIs) with a tool for self-assessing their social responsibility (SR) that generates the information and knowledge necessary to a strategic approach to adopting the Green Paper recommendations about the SR of HEIs. Setting out the collaborative policy development process in order to construct the tool “Indicators of SR of HEIs” (ISRHEI). Design/methodology/approach – After a literature review, including self-assessment (SA) tools and leading guidelines, a working group of 24 Portuguese HEIs was created to coconstruct the ISRHEI tool, which was then subject to validation in a pilot study. Findings – There are 34 indicators in the ISRHEI tool, structured by sequential levels according to the HEI alignment with SR (policies, procedures, practices and monitoring along a strategic continuum) hoping to achieve impacts on the organisational, educational, cognitive and social level. Originality – This is an innovative and national policy development process for SR in Portugal. It gives insights into guiding documents, SA indicators for SR, and the process of developing consensus on this topic among 24 HEIs in Portugal. The ISRHEI tool is tailored to the specific characteristics and level of development of HEIs.