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University Social Responsibility During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Universities’ Case in the BRICS Countries

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University Social Responsibility During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Universities’ Case in the BRICS Countries sustainability Article University Social Responsibility during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Universities’ Case in the BRICS Countries Abedalqader Rababah 1,*, Natalya I. Nikitina 2, Veronica M. Grebennikova 3, Zhanna R. Gardanova 4, Angelina O. Zekiy 5, Vadim V. Ponkratov 6, Nadezhda N. Bashkirova 7, Nikolay V. Kuznetsov 8, Tatyana I. Volkova 9, Marina V. Vasiljeva 10,11, Marina I. Ivleva 12 and Izabella D. Elyakova 13 1 Faculty of Business, Sohar University, P.O. Box 44, Sohar P.C 311, Oman 2 Interdisciplinary Research Laboratory, Research Institute for Advanced Directions and Technologies, Russian State Social University, 129226 Moscow, Russia; [email protected] 3 Department of Pedagogy and Psychology, Faculty of Pedagogy, Psychology and Communication, Kuban State University, 350040 Krasnodar, Russia; [email protected] 4 Department of Psychotherapy, Faculty of Clinical Psychology and Social Sciences, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, 117997 Moscow, Russia; [email protected] 5 Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia; [email protected] 6 Department of Public Finance, Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, 125993 Moscow, Russia; [email protected] 7 Higher School of State Audit, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119234 Moscow, Russia; [email protected] 8 Department of Finance and Credit, State University of Management, 109542 Moscow, Russia; [email protected] 9 Department of Economics and Production Organization, Bauman Moscow State Technical University, Citation: Rababah, A.; Nikitina, N.I.; 105005 Moscow, Russia; [email protected] Grebennikova, V.M.; Gardanova, Z.R.; 10 Top Management, Atlantic Science and Technology Academic Press, Boston, MA 01233, USA; Zekiy, A.O.; Ponkratov, V.V.; Bashkirova, [email protected] or [email protected] N.N.; Kuznetsov, N.V.; Volkova, T.I.; 11 Founder, General Director, Autonomous Non-Profit Organization “Publishing House Scientific Review” Vasiljeva, M.V.; et al. University (Nauchnoe Obozrenie), 127051 Moscow, Russia Social Responsibility during the 12 Humanitarian Training Center, History and Philosophy Department, Plekhanov Russian University COVID-19 Pandemic: Universities’ of Economics, 115054 Moscow, Russia; [email protected] 13 Case in the BRICS Countries. Department of Economics and Finance, North-Eastern Federal University, Sustainability 2021, 13, 7035. https:// 677000 Yakutsk, Sakha Republic, Russia; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] or [email protected] doi.org/10.3390/su13137035 Academic Editor: Andrea Appolloni Abstract: University social responsibility (USR) is an important assessment criterion of the QS Stars. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the social orientation of universities as intellectual leaders Received: 20 May 2021 in the development of society gains particular importance. The research purpose is to analyze the Accepted: 20 June 2021 impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the university activity directions in the framework of strategies Published: 23 June 2021 (USR). An empirical assessment of the level and complementary factors of USR in the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) was conducted, using the method of integral and Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral expert assessment. Grounded on scoring according to the principal component analysis, the structure with regard to jurisdictional claims in of the factors of the USR development in the BRICS countries was determined. Multifactor regression published maps and institutional affil- modeling allowed substantiating the priority of factors stimulating the development of USR in the iations. BRICS countries in modern conditions and arguing the main barriers to introducing the concept of social responsibility into university activities and expanding the stakeholders’ circle in it. The research results showed that the university management creativity, effective communication with the public and stakeholders, the quality of the educational process and the development of scientific Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. activities stimulate USR development in the BRICS countries and should be used as the basis for the Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. strategic planning of activities in the context of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. Conceptual This article is an open access article trends in the USR development can be useful for universities in the studied countries when adapting distributed under the terms and strategic development plans regarding the social needs of modern society. conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/). Sustainability 2021, 13, 7035. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13137035 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability Sustainability 2021, 13, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 28 Sustainability 2021, 13, 7035 2 of 29 Keywords: university social responsibility (USR); universities in the BRICS countries; COVID-19 Keywords: university social responsibility (USR); universities in the BRICS countries; COVID-19 pandemic; higher education system sustainability; university development pandemic; higher education system sustainability; university development 1. Introduction 1. Introduction 1.1.1.1. Challenges Challenges for for Universities Universities duringduring thethe PandemicPandemic TheThe higher higher education education system system in in the the BRICS BRICS countries, countries, inin particular,particular, universities,universities, playplay a fundamentala fundamental role role in in the the formation formation and and implementation implementation ofof educationaleducational programs programs and and are are responsibleresponsible for for ensuring ensuring their their quality quality and and compliance compliance with with current current realities. realiti Thees. The large-scale large- COVID-19scale COVID pandemic-19 pandemic spread spread has transformed has transformed not only not the only traditional the traditional life way, life but way, also but the wayalso people the way receive people higher receive education higher education and education and education delivery [delivery1,2]. In the [1,2]. BRICS In the countries, BRICS countries, where higher education has become a basic social norm and an important tool where higher education has become a basic social norm and an important tool for social for social and economic development, universities have faced a whole system of chal- and economic development, universities have faced a whole system of challenges to ensure lenges to ensure the educational process quality (Figure 1). the educational process quality (Figure1). FigureFigure 1. Challenges1. Challenges for for universities universities during during the the pandemic pandemic in the in BRICSthe BRICS countries countries (developed (developed by the by authors the authors based based on [3 ,on4]). [3,4]). The pandemic COVID-19 has forced the academic community in the BRICS countries to turnThe to newpandemic teaching COVID methods,-19 has including forced the distance academic and community online learning. in the BRICS Experience countries has shownto turn that, to new unfortunately, teaching methods, only a few including education distance systems and (China online and learning. Russia) Experience have appeared has toshown be fully that prepared, unfortunately [5,6]. Suspension, only a few oreducation inappropriate systems implementation (China and Russia) of educational have ap- processpeared nationwide to be fully prepared can disrupt [5,6]. the Suspension learning process or inappropriate for millions implementation of other students, of andeduca- will alsotional have process large socialnationwide and economic can disrupt consequences, the learning especially process for for millions the poor of [ 7other,8]. It students, is during thisand period will also that have the sociallarge social responsibility and economic of universities consequences, becomes especially extremely for the important poor [7,8]. [9]. It isThe during USR this is aperiod powerful that toolthe social for influencing responsibility social, of universities economic, becomes and environmental extremely aspects.important Universities [9]. also participate in determining the course of countries’ development in the face of a deteriorating economic situation and contribute to effective political and social decision making [10]. The ability to balance stakeholders’ expectations and university Sustainability 2021, 13, 7035 3 of 29 resources has become the USR core value. The COVID-19 pandemic has made its own adjustments to the USR and sustainable development agenda and changed the priorities in the implementation of educational programs. This is the crucial importance of the USR, due to its high impact on society. In the current conditions of higher education system adaptations to the modern challenges in the BRICS countries, the priorities and requirements of the social responsibility of universities are changing. The mission in modern conditions should not be limited to an urgent development of curricula immediately available to those who need it most [11], instead ensuring a high level of university teachers’ professionalism and conscientiousness, the possibility of their quick retraining for using educational online platforms, etc. [11]. Undoubtedly, the USR is manifested
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