Higher education institutions play a critical role in shaping the next generation of leaders and professionals. As society becomes increasingly aware of our social and environmental challenges, universities must adapt to meet these challenges. One way to do this is by adopting a social value lens when designing new strategies and programmes.
Social value is an organisation or activity’s positive impact on society beyond financial gain. By embedding social value into higher education, universities can ensure that their programmes and activities are aligned with the needs and priorities of society. This alignment also means engaging with social organizations and initiatives, such as Business in the Community and Principles of Responsible Management Education, which have social value as a core focus.
This thought piece explores how higher education can utilise a social value lens to design new strategies and programmes that create a positive impact on society.
Liverpool Business School has launched pioneering guidance about how universities can better generate the kinds of impacts that positively impact people’s lives. The report focuses on teaching as a direct driver of societal impact, rather than on research where impact management is much more developed.
