Proceedings of the 7th International Academic Conference on Teaching, Learning and Education, 2024
Year: 2024
DOI:
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Implementing the Principles of Social Responsibility in Higher Education Institutions
Andrius Guoba, prof. dr. Birute Zygaitiene, assoc. prof. dr. Inga Kepaliene
ABSTRACT:
Corporate social responsibility is most often emphasized in business, but it is equally important in public sector organisations. The implementation of social responsibility is closely linked to the integration of social responsibility principles in organisations to ensure rights of employees, ethical service delivery and environmentally friendly activities. Organisations voluntarily undertake initiatives to improve the well-being of their employees, local communities and society as a whole. In order to find out the principles of social responsibility implemented in higher education institutions, a literature and document analysis as well as qualitative research was carried out at the Faculty of Arts and Creative Technologies of Vilniaus Kolegija / Higher Education Institution (VIKO ACTF). The article analyses the implementation of the principles of social responsibility in higher education institutions from the point of view of teaching staff. The summary of the views of the teachers who participated in the in-depth semi-structured interviews revealed that the principles of social responsibility are being implemented at VIKO ACTF. Teachers identified such priority principles of social responsibility as ethical behaviour, transparency, the importance of stakeholders’ interests, the elimination of social inequalities, and the protection of the environment, which they integrate voluntarily in their work. The implementation of social responsibility principles has led to positive changes in terms of reducing negative environmental impacts, increasing accessibility of activities remotely, cooperation with partners and social exclusion groups. All the teachers who participated in the study answered unequivocally that the principles of social responsibility contribute significantly to the effective operation of higher education institutions (HEIs) and promote trust in the organisation.
keywords: social responsibility, principles of social responsibility, higher education