Social responsibility: university volunteering and virtuous behaviour. The case of a city in Peru

Abstract

The present study aimed to explore the issue of social responsibility of the university student from the perspective of volunteering as virtuous behavior. An instrument was applied to a non-probabilistic sample (318 participants) for convenience. An exploratory factor analysis was performed and statistically significant differences were examined according to socio-demographic characteristics. The results showed significant differences depending on the number of years attending university and on volunteering experience. Students who declared to have two years attending university expressed a significantly higher appreciation for an approach to professional practice with social commitment. This is in agreement with high valuations expressed by students participating in volunteering groups. In conclusion, higher education institutions can use strategies associated with university volunteering to train students on social responsibility by developing strategies that encourage social sensitivity, virtuous behavior, and social commitment.