Abstract:

This work is aimed at drawing up a set of indicators to measure performance in the context of University Social Responsibility (USR), in the educational process, applied to the University of Panama.
Out of the four processes highlighted by Vallaeys in his definition of USR we have focused on the educational process, given the forum to which this paper is submitted. The main purpose of this process is to ensure an academic education based on skills that shall allow to fulfil the commitment to turn social and environmental realities into more equal, healthier and fairer global and local scenarios. The aforementioned education must depart from a curriculum orientation rooted in socially responsible values, attitudes and behaviors.
In this process, and in order to achieve our main goal, it is worth noting Responsible Professional Training as our strategic focus, with the following actors involved: professors, researchers, students, community-based organizations, companies, public bodies or graduates.
In this regard, we have taken as reference certain basic statements on educational policy, which place particular emphasis on the education of responsible citizens. This recommendation is put forward in the University of Panama’s definition of its mission, vision and values, as well as in the objectives outlined in the Strategic Plan.
Based on the foregoing, in order to fulfil our main goal we have departed from a number of secondary objectives:
1. Examining the current situation in terms of USR in the University of Panama.
2. Taking advantage of the information trend stemming from the Evaluation and Institutional Accreditation process that the said University is currently undergoing, as well as of the support to the Strategic Plan.
3. Taking as a departing point the indicators regarding the university teaching factor defined in the Evaluation and Institutional Accreditation matrix of the University of Panama.
4. Giving the abovementioned indicators a specific profile that allows for analyzing the USR value from the educational perspective.
Once the USR indicators regarding educational impact had been drawn up, the aim should be to perform an empirical study on the application of such indicators to the various universities in Panama. To that end, we would conduct a survey asking about the possibility of providing information on the proposed indicators.

Keywords:

University of Panama, Evaluation and Institutional Accreditation Process, educational impact, USR indicators.