The Intellectual Structure in University Social Responsibility Research: A Bibliometric Analysis

ABSTRACT University Social Responsibility (USR) is an emerging concept in business and social science research that addresses the broader responsibilities of higher education institutions in contemporary societies. While USR research has grown substantially, focusing on the role of universities in tackling global challenges, a comprehensive synthesis of the literature remains limited. Additionally, there is a lack of understanding regarding the diverse scholarly contributions to the field. This study presents a systematic review of USR literature. A bibliometric analysis of 288 published articles identifies the core themes of USR research, including environmental sustainability, civic and community engagement, capacity building, equality and inclusion, social responsibility in teaching and learning, governance, and accountability. Research trends over time are also examined. The study identifies five key clusters characterising the current literature: Engagement, Students' Perceptions, Disclosure, Student Satisfaction and USR and finally, the Role of USR in the University's Reputation. The implications of these findings are discussed.