Rethinking University Governance: Leveraging Quality for Social Responsibility in Higher Education

Abstract

This paper analyzes the synergy between university governance, quality management, and university social responsibility, viewed as interdependent levers of sustainable performance and institutional legitimacy. Based on a systemic conceptual approach, it proposes a model integrating these three dimensions: governance as the strategic driver, quality management as the mechanism for continuous improvement, and USR as the ethical and societal purpose.

The study highlights a circular dynamic in which ethical and participatory governance enhances quality, quality reinforces social legitimacy, and USR, in turn, strengthens both institutional trust and organizational learning. Drawing on recent reforms and transformations in Moroccan higher education, the paper paves the way for an empirical case study assessing the practical implementation of this integrated model in the national context.

Classification JEL : I23, M12, M14

Paper type : Theoretical Research