Social responsibility in higher agricultural education: The future research approach

Rajabian Gharib, F.; Mohammadzadeh, S.; Harif Sharifzadeh, M.S.

doi:10.22035/isih.2021.369

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

¹ Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Faculty of Agricultural & Rural Civil Engineering, Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Ahvaz, Iran

² . Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Faculty of Agricultural & Rural Civil Engineering, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Ahvaz, Iran (Corresponding Author)

³ Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Facultyof Agricultural Management Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Golestan, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22035/isih.2021.369

Abstract

In the future, the issue of university social responsibility (USR) will be expanded to a variety of domains of local, national and international communities. Since the social responsibility of higher education in the future transformation process requires a futuristic approach, the current study aims to focus on the same in higher agricultural education. Three main steps were taken in the course of this study. First, based on the focus group approach, drivers of university social responsibility in higher agricultural education were identified. Then, using the interactive analysis method as well as MicMac software, five key drivers were selected from among the 14 identified divers. Key factors were defined with expert opinions based on the idea of scenario writing on 21 possible and probable situations in the future of university social responsibility. And then by forming 21x21 matrix and applying expert knowledge in assessing the impact of each situation on the occurrence or non-occurrence of other situation, 2 contrasting scenarios (Phoenix and Peacock) as strong ones and 104 scenarios with low and weak probably occurrences were extracted using ScenarioWizard 4.31 software. The phoenix scenario represents the realization of university social responsibility for sustainable local and regional development whereas the peacock scenario stresses that the university as a separate entity lacks social responsibility. In other words, these scenarios indicate the futuristic vision of the university’s social responsibility.

References

De la Cuesta Gonzalez, M., Porras, A., Saavedra, I. & Sanchez, D.S. (2010). El Compromiso Social de la UNED. In M. De la Cuesta, C. De la Cruz and J. M. Rodriguez Fernandez (eds.), Responsabilidad Social Universitaria. La Coruna: Netbiblo, 232–272.

Felt, U. (2003). University autonomy in Europe: Changing paradigms in higher education policy. Paper presented at the EAU convention of European Higher Education Institutions, Graz 39-31 May, 2003.

Kaufmann, D., Kraay, A., & Mastruzzi, M. (2006). Governance matters V: aggregate and individual governance indicators for 1996-2005 (Vol. 4012). World Bank Publications.

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Volume 13, Issue 3 - Serial Number 51June 2021Pages 33-69

Volume 13, Issue 3 - Serial Number 51
June 2021
Pages 33-69