CSR at HEIs: Between Ignorance, Awareness and Knowledge

Abstract

Purpose: This paper focuses on CSR education in the Higher Education Institutions. It analyzes current approaches to this education and the enhancements already deployed in the international perspective. The main aim is to conceptualize on CSRS education forms within the context of technology-oriented HEIs and propose the model for this education. This model has also been partially verified using the cases of four technical universities. Design/methodology/approach: This research uses qualitative and quantitative research methods. The literature review is applied to trace HEIs’ educational and organizational CSR commitment methods. Based on this review, we proposed a model of CSRS education in HEIs. Using this model, we checked to what extent its elements are used in four technical universities from: Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine and Poland. For this purpose, educational programs at universities were analyzed. We also confronted the activity of these universities with the students’ knowledge about CSRS. The results of the survey conducted among 3,424 students from these universities contributed to elaborating on this aspect. Findings: The results confirm that students are ignorant of CSR, even those studying at business faculties. What is surprising, even those students who are business owners do not demonstrate a high level of knowledge about CSR. Universities, on the other hand, do not offer the possibility of eliminating this ignorance. Meanwhile, we believe they can do so not only through the standing-alone CSRS education but also by including CSR in other courses and by giving a good example. Research limitations/implications: Due to language barriers, the submitted model was only partially verified at selected universities. We are also aware that the described situation may be one-sided as the four cases presented in this study are homogeneous, as they represent technical universities, so only one profile among a variety of universities’ profiles (technical versus humanities versus economic). Moreover, the conducted research covered students and universities from Central and Eastern Europe, which might also have an impact on the obtained results. Originality/value: Bearing in mind the current level of implementation of education in the area of CSR and the results of the research carried out, we propose a model of education that includes three pillars: a good example of a university (socially responsible university), responsible managers education (RME) and raising awareness among students of non-business faculties (ASR). At the same time, we indicated a large gap between the educational needs in the area of CSRS and the offer of four technical universities.

Keywords

• csr
• responsible education
• csr awareness
• responsible university