Measuring University Social Responsibility: A Quantitative Study at Cadi Ayyad University, Morocco

Abstract

Abstract

This study examines how University Social Responsibility (USR) can be objectively measured and evaluated through a quantitative approach, focusing on students' perceptions at the Faculty of Legal, Economic and Social Sciences (FLESS) of Cadi Ayyad University in Morocco. Based on a stratified sample of 380 students, the research evaluates four dimensions of USR: Responsible Campus (RC), Professional and Civic Training (PCT), Social Management of Knowledge (SMK), and Social Participation (SP). Using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), the findings reveal that Social Management of Knowledge is the most influential determinant of perceived USR (β = 0.522, p < 0.001), followed by Professional and Civic Training (β = 0.177, p < 0.001) and Social Participation (β = 0.164, p < 0.001). Surprisingly, Responsible Campus showed no significant impact on USR perception. The model explains 71.41% of the variance in USR, indicating strong explanatory power. These results provide actionable insights for university policymakers seeking to enhance their institution's social responsibility profile.

Keywords: University Social Responsibility, USR measurement, higher education, PLS-SEM, Morocco, Cadi Ayyad University