University Social Responsibility: a new university model against commodification

Abstract

University Social Responsibility (USR) is a new university management policy that is being developed in Latin America to respond to the organizational and academic impacts of the university. It is distinct from the traditional solidarity extensionand from a mere unilateral, declaratory commitment,compelling each university to put under consideration its epistemic estimates and hidden curriculum. As such, USR is not comfortable, for it presses for institutional self-criticism. It is, however, the best alternative we have to root academic pertinence and legitimacy when faced by the crisis of scientific knowledge in a society at risk, as well as the decline of socially anchored teaching in an era of university multinationals.