Evaluation of University Social Responsibility: an approach from management quality

Abstract

Introduction. The effective evaluation of University Social Responsibility (USR) requires considering not only the actions taken, but also the quality of the management that promotes them. This study, derived from the RUTAS project, identifies a gap in this area and proposes to design a procedure for evaluating USR practices based on the elements of managerial quality, considered key to their social impact. Materials and methods. A mixed-methods approach was used, including document analysis (2021-2023), surveys, and interviews with a purposive sample of 70 professors and members of the governing board of the Agrarian University of Havana. Elements of managerial quality and USR were identified, and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was applied to determine the relationship between the two constructs, complemented by expert review for validation. Results. A three-stage, nine-step procedure was designed (preparation, fundamental analysis, and instrument design). Statistical analysis revealed a significant relationship between university social responsibility (USR) and six elements of managerial quality: Leadership, Communication, Conflict Management, Decision-Making, Strategic Vision, and Task Coordination. Discussion. The findings confirm that the quality of managerial management is a determining factor for USR. The developed instrument, composed of 24 items grouped into six dimensions, demonstrated high reliability (Cronbach's Alpha = 0.8351) in a pilot test, validating its usefulness for measuring USR practices from a managerial perspective. Conclusions. The proposed procedure is systematic, flexible, and relevant, constituting a valid tool for university management that allows for the evaluation and enhancement of USR based on managerial performance, facilitating decision-making and improving the university-society relationship.