USR Network: A Platform to Promote University Social Responsibility

Abstract

Higher Education is facing rapid and enormous change, one of which is the corporatization of higher education. Given the market-driven nature of university education, a natural and reasonable concern is its social responsibility towards the community it serves, particularly when corporate social responsibility is the normative expectation of contemporary organizations by the general public. This is also an intrinsic mission of the university. This chapter aims to outline the importance of University Social Responsibility (USR) and the emergence of such an initiative entitled University Social Responsibility Network (USRN) initiated by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. In particular, we pay close attention to the network development of the collective effort, in contrast to the endeavor of a single institution. The rationale, mission, organizational structure and strategy of USRN, as well as the strengths and challenges of this partnership approach, will also be discussed particularly drawing on the lessons learned from other similar and related initiatives. Ideas for the future development of the USRN are also discussed.