Innovation in Higher Education: The Experience of Socially Responsible Universities

Introduction

In recent years, various circumstances are affecting the development of economic issues, such as the process of globalization in which we are immersed, the internationalization of capital markets and their important transparency, aspects which have clearly determined the focus of organizations towards an harmonious, responsible and sustainable development (Bansal, 2002; Lizcano, 2002; Figge & Hahn, 2004; Anderson & Bieniaszewska, 2005; Mikkila, 2005; Oskarsson & von Malmborg, 2005; Hahn & Scheermesser, 2006; Gallardo & Castilla, 2007), i.e., working in a way that implies a certain Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The issue of CSR requires that the field will not simply integrate CSR into existing models but will also examine some of the underlying beliefs of those models that are challenged by CSR, because social and environmental policies are not philanthropy, not public relations, and not marketing, but social and environmental issues can affect its financial performance, so new concerns such as equity and efficiency presented by the CSR in a globalized world (Heal, 2008).

Consequently, the consideration of this concept involves integrating it in defining organizational strategy (Lyon, 2004; Anderson & Bieniaszewska, 2005; Oskarsson & von Malmborg, 2005; Secchi, 2006). This means that, today, as part of its strategy, every organization will provide voluntarily social responsibility information that will not damage or their own interests or those of third parties, that is, to offer a socially responsible behavior (Gallardo & Castilla, 2007), what has been accompanied by an increase in accounting research in this field (Van der Laan Smith, Adhikari & Tondkar, 2005).In the new economy, we can say that a number of factors have changed the equation of sustainability, to the point that “the failure to incorporate the principles of sustainability in economic practices will push the company / organization to “hit the wall” both socially and ecologically”(Bell, 2002, p.3). What we cannot fail to admit is that today very few organizations remain immune to the developments taking place in recent years, referred for responsible practices.

The European Union (EU), an institution that is betting on the homogenization of socially responsible actions, published in 2001, the report called “Green Book. Promoting a European framework for corporate social responsibility”. This document defines CSR as “the voluntary integration by companies of social and environmental concerns in their business operations and in their interaction with their stakeholders” (EU, 2001, p.20). Corporations increasingly adopt CSR program to “contribute to a better society and a cleaner environment” (EU, 2001, p.5).Recently, this definition has been renewed pointing “the responsibility of enterprises for their impacts on society” and making explicit reference to the need for collaboration with stakeholders to “integrate social, environmental and ethical concerns, respect for the human rights and consumer concerns into their business operations and core strategy” (EU, 2011, p.7). Although CSR is recognized as a viable routed to solve poverty, social exclusion, and environmental degradation (Merino & Valor, 2001; Van Marrewijk, 2003; Velásquez, 2012).