An Analysis of the Social Participation of Universities in the Society with an Emphasis on Local Community Expectations

Today, universities cannot survive as an autocratic and non-authoritarian organization, without interaction with other social areas. This interaction must change the role of universities, and prioritize the economic and social development of their communities, which in turn requires new approaches towards university and community union. Thus, there is a clear need for further research and the creation of clear research strategies for university social participation and the identification of local community expectations. This study suggested that, as its main purpose, Semnan University was able to contribute to its local community as a local university and identified its needs and expectations. This study aimed to identify some of the stakeholders in the university to achieve the goals of the university's social participation. It is evident that this approach is to improve the efficiency of the university and its exit from isolation and within itself, thereby providing a link between the university and the local community. Based on this attitude, it can be hoped that with an emphasis on the recognition of needs and expectations of stakeholders, the university and its social participation were a step toward public interests and reducing the problems and challenges of the province and the future of the province.

In this research, the Grand Theory method was used. The research process began with a study area and gradually the related issues were added. The statistical research population included Semnan province and Semnan University. In researching the views of the guest guide, it is permissible to use the information of the interview. For this purpose, an unstructured interview tool was used to enable the researcher to take the leading role of the interview and handle it by introducing a few general questions and listening to the narrative of the contributors. In the interview, 29 people (13 university stakeholders and 16 international stakeholders) were interviewed. Data analysis was performed in the three-step process of accurate performance coding. To confirm the validity and reliability of the research, the strategies of Pitti, Thomson, and Steve (2012), Charms (2010), and Lincoln and Gaba (1985) have been used. These strategies included Dependability, Credibility, Conformability, and Transferability. Together, they enhanced the validity of the research and made it possible to transfer the findings to other similar contexts.

The results showed that the most important factors of social participation in university social participation were periodic monitoring of university performance through local organizations and their peers, education on environmental issues, enrichment of curricula, and appropriate educational content. In this regard, strategies from key managers concerning their experiences and perceptions of university social participation were obtained. These strategies can be used to educate citizens the concept of culture, open up the social environment for youth development, education in the province especially in deprived regions, the sensitivity of programmers in the field of protection of the environment, and review the educational content based on the need of the society. To implement these guidelines, there should be no meritocracy regarding the role of environmental factors such as changing the university and changing the views of government, lack of responsibility and responsiveness to society, lack of responsibility and responsiveness to scientific consumerism, lack of responsibility and the habit of scientific consumption, the notion of cooperation between university and industry. Finally, with these interactions and responses to the social participation of the university, there must be consequences such as reducing social damage, increasing the quality of life of citizens, and improving health needs, becoming in university, reducing unemployment, and aligning the education with the needs.