Strategic Planning and Implementation of Social Responsibilities in Higher Education: Evidence From Italian Public Universities

Abstract

This article investigates the strategic management of University Social Responsibility (USR) practices in Italian Public Universities, focusing on the transition from strategy formulation to implementation to evaluate social responsibility integration. Based on the framework outlined in the previous work of George et al. (2023), this research considers how social responsibility is embedded in strategic planning and implementation. The methodology employed is qualitative; in particular, a content analysis approach was applied to a sample of 27 Italian public universities to measure the relevance of USR in strategic planning and evaluate whether planned outcomes are achieved and reported. Social responsibility activities influence students' and stakeholders' perceptions of a university's reputation; this makes USR a crucial aspect that must be managed through proper planning. The study contributes to the literature on the strategic management of USR, offering theoretical and practical implications for academic and professional communities, including policymakers.