The Social Responsibility of Shaqra University from the Point of View of the Academic Staff Members

Abstract

The study was designed to demonstrate the role of Shaqra University in the community service or social responsibility, and to explain the difficulties that face the University in this regard. The researchers used the analytical descriptive method to reach the results of this study by designing a questionnaire distributed to the sample members of the study. The results of the study showed that the University plays a role in the community service in different aspects, such as the University’s contribution to the rehabilitation of employees in the community through various course, and the university’s contribution to support activities in cooperation with local clubs. The study showed that important services for the community like communicating with graduates, offering course in literacy and adult education, helping graduates to join the labor market, providing advice to families whose children suffer from educational problems, and proving continuous educational programs such as enrolment or distance learning have got the lowest ranks according to the sample members. The study results also showed that there are difficulties that limit the University’s ability to play its role in the community service, such as the occupation of the faculty members with the various teaching burdens, the absence of a financial return for the faculty members for participation in social activities, and the low points allocated to community service in the annual evaluation and promotion models.

The study recommended that the University should focus on and pay attention to the aspects affecting the community in the areas of social responsibility, as they serve the community and contribute to its development. The University should address the difficulties that limit the ability of faculty members to serve the community: disburse a cash allowance to faculty members participating in serving the community, honor them, and make adjustments to the points allocated to the community service in the faculty members’ promotion and evaluation.