Educational Institutions & CSR

Educational institutions can choose to be followers, or they can seize the opportunity to be leaders and adopt CSR as a vital aspect of their competitive advantage. First, educational institutions should promote a true culture of CSR throughout their organizations. Second, educational institutions should develop social marketing actions in order to better communicate and interact with stakeholders. The development of a vibrant CSR culture will foster the build-up of human and social capital with the organization.
The stakeholders of an educational institution include present students, future students and corporate supporters, among many others.
In today’s era, students still care about how educational institutions are exercising their own CSR, from climate change and recycling to making a difference with respect to global inequities in the world.

One large stakeholder group is present students, most in the age range of 18 – 25.This group is the most tech-savvy within the general population. They are also among the most interested in understanding the social action of organizations and they have little patience for those who do not do so with transparency and integrity.

Another group of potential stakeholders are future students. Prospective students are interested not just in the academic reputation of the educational institution, but also in the character of the institution. Incoming students are drawn to institutions that reflect a culture of social responsibility. It makes a difference in terms of selecting a educational institution.

Another important group of educational institution stakeholders are corporate supporters of a educational institution. These businesses that provide financial and strategic support to a educational institution are increasingly acclimatized to working with CSR concerns. They will benefit from an alignment of an educational institution strategy that reflects their own concerns.