University social responsibility in times of crisis (COVID-19): lessons from public universities of an underdeveloped country

Abstract

As only little is known regarding University Social Responsibility (USR) in times of crisis from underdeveloped economies, this study explored the initiatives of four public universities in an underdeveloped country context to mitigate the COVID‑19 crisis by way of USR. A total of 70 interviews were conducted with the stakeholders of the universities. The study found out that the universities, indeed, managed to perform USR to their major stakeholders – employees (e.g., protected wages and salaries; and provided flexible work schedules), students (e.g., monitoring social distancing; and free transportation of students to their hometowns due to the lockdown), and local community (e.g., provided meals and sanitizers for disadvantaged members; and offered quarantine facilities). Yet, the concerns/challenges encountered were not only numerous, but they were also alarming; ranging from poor infrastructure to a focus on PR (visibility) as well as to engaging in unnecessary competition among the universities and repetitive interventions. Thus, the universities might need to reinforce and hone their USR practices in times of crisis, and beyond by being agile, innovative, and cooperative. In addition to extending USR studies to less explored territories; this study provides empirical evidence regarding USR in times of crisis (in light of COVID‑19) byexhibiting lessons from public universities in an underdeveloped country context.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• university social responsibility
• stakeholders
• underdeveloped country
• universities
• Ethiopia