University rankings have strongly influenced the values, practices, and policies universities adopt to be considered "good" universities. Thinking in terms of epistemic responsibilities (ERs) of universities provides a novel framework that could counter the traditional use of rankings and its negative effects, by accentuating other and…

The present article shifts the focus and burden of whistleblowing away from an individual to the collective and argues for the necessary incorporation of whistleblowing into an ethical infrastructure in institutions of higher education. The authors argue that institutions of higher learning should be understood as collective agents bestowed with…

This article discusses the criticisms made of business schools and higher education institutions regarding their teaching practices and their responsibility in economic crises. Neoliberal ideology and a consumerist approach to education have created a utilitarian relationship with knowledge, in which education is seen as an investment that must be…

This study examines the integration of University Social Responsibility (USR) into higher education through a case study of the "Creativity Design" course at National Chiayi University. The course, supported by Taiwan's National Science and Technology Council, aimed to address challenges faced by Haomeili, a remote village facing the…

The importance of student mental health as an institutional priority came into stark relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. The total disruption of collegiate life over the two years highlighted the links between student mental health and institutional success. The traditional institutional response assigning support to students with mental health…

Using Black feminist thought as a theoretical lens, authors explore their experiences as Black women faculty navigating the COVID-19 pandemic amid the resurgent epidemic of racialized violence in the U.S. We conclude with implications for Black women's enactment of radical self-care and institutional responsibility in humanizing higher education…

With the transition to knowledge-based economies, higher education (HE) has become a driving factor for economic and social development. Alongside high-quality education and excellent research, social responsibility (SR) has become an important aspect of universities' accountability and legitimacy. Considering the growing importance of SR for…

In this paper, Caitlin Murphy Brust and Hannah Widmaier begin with the assumption that highly selective institutions of higher education in the United States have a duty to promote civic equality. They employ Wendy Salkin's theory of informal political representation to examine how highly selective institutions should go about promoting civic…

This article addresses the formalisation of support structures for refugee students at German higher education organisations. After the refugee influx in 2015 and 2016, early support for refugees was characterised by often voluntary, informal, spontaneous activities by pioneers. Subsequently, the situation changed as higher education organisations…

Purpose: Previous research has evidenced that communication design students wish to engage further with sustainable practices but struggle to understand how (Newton and Ellis, HER conference 2023). Whereas other design disciplines (fashion, product, furniture) can often focus on a "physical" output, communication design embraces multiple…

University Social Responsibility (USR), as an innovative management approach in the university environment, has given Higher Education Institutions the opportunity to strengthen their commitment to society. In this context, the present study focuses on the evaluation of a decentralization strategy, taking as a case study the "U en mi…

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to analyze how sustainability was operationalized in the Spanish universities through plans and actions that contribute actively to the achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Design/methodology/approach: A systematic search and content analysis served to examine information available on…

It has long been established that universities have three main functions: to teach, to research and supervise research, and to benefit the communities and regions in which they are located. In reality, the third main function permeates the other two. There are clearly social responsibilities to the students and to the staff who teach them and/or…

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to review university social responsibility (USR) using a well-known quantitative approach of bibliometric analysis. Compared to corporate social responsibility (CSR), USR is in its infancy stage, requiring further exploration of its meaning and impact toward higher education institutions (HEIs).…

In this qualitative study, 21 Title IX federal court cases between 2000-2022 were examined. The purpose of this analysis was to explore how the changes in Title IX guidance across President George W. Bush (R), President Barack Obama (D), and President Donald Trump (R) administrations have impacted higher education institutional liability lawsuits.…