Social responsibility of higher education institutions: actual issues of concept determination.

Abstract

Modern stage of reforming systems of higher education in various countries implies identification of one more trend, that is social respon­ sibility of higher education institutions In this article we consider various definitions of social responsibility of HEIs, design a matrix of major direc­ tions of its implementation, determine the functions of a socially respon­ sible HEI, identify characteristics of the HEI as a social institution. We agree with experts who believe that social responsibility of HEIs is the ability of a university to disseminate and realize a range of values through four key processes – management, education, research and production. Mod­ ern world­class universities are centers of education, science, culture and production. We have come to the conclusion that modern trends in the development of HEIs such as widening of academic freedoms, obtaining of autonomy by HEIs, strengthening of their social responsibility – form the basis of sustainable development of HEIs.