CSR activities at universities: The case of Hanoi University of Industry

preserve the environment, 
the university also engages in philanthropic responsibilities 
which go above and beyond what is simply required or 
what the organization believes is right. These involve 
making an effort to benefit society, for example, by 
donating services and performing charitable activities to 
community. This is indicated in previous researches 
including Ellen et al. (2006), as a tool for organizations to 
measure their reputation and public image. Last but not 
least, HaUI commits to supply competent workers who can 
meet the demands of to the labor market in terms of skills, 
knowledge and attitude. This is published in the website of 
the university as a commitment toward society. Details can 
be seen in the following table. 
Self-management: anti-corruption 
Recruitment and admissions at HaUI is performed under 
regulations ensuring publicity, transparency and fairness 
stated as its core values. Those values are published in the 
website of the university and communicated with employees 
through recruitment, professional development, promotion 
opportunities, conferences, annual reports and meetings. To 
ensure the transparency, HaUI also communicates its values 
with students by involving them in activities, projects and 
establishing quality assurance systems which assure test 
validity and reliability and a fair environment. 
CSR has grown and developed worldwide. This 
document-based study at HaUI shows that CSR can be 
found in its strategies and daily activities. 
CSR Issues Evidence of Presence at HaUI 
Environmental Program 
Transportation and travel 
The application of Japanese 5S principles (seiri,seiton,seiso,seiketsu, and shitsuke - sorting, set in order, systematic cleaning, standardizing, and sustaining) 
- Commuter for staff teaching at the 3rd campus, 100km from Hanoi. 
- There is policy for using organisational vehicles including reimbursement for public transport when a staff goes on business trip. 
Energy preservation - Timer for air-conditioners in office areas. - Paper savings: Recycling papers for printing and Electronic information and communication system (egov.haui.edu.vn) 
Green Campus - “Green Day” - 5S 
Community involvement 
“Annual summer campaigns for volunteers”: Support students during National Entrance Exams, Training on basic IT, cleaning up residential areas, 
“Uống nước nhớ nguồn, đền ơn đáp nghĩa” (which can be translated as “be grateful”) - a charitable activity: givings to the disadvantaged: households, students, 
etc or national and international people suffering from national disasters with donations from students and staff. 
CSR promotion: 
Environmental or social 
Campaigns/ propagandas 
Many campaigns are organised under the intructions of higher authorities or in collaboration with external organisation. They are not limited to the followings: 
- Earth Hour, 
- Environment day 
- 5S 
- Competition for “Electricity saving” 
- Blood donation: the latest is Pink Spring hosted by Vietnam National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion. 
- and other national historical days. 
- Anti-drug addiction campaign, specially for students living in HaUI dormitories 
- Traffic Law: training and Driving competition (both driving practice and traffic law tested) 
- Social Evils Awareness 
High Quality “Product” 
The supply of special and high quality products to labour market: Competent workers. The term competence has been defined as the combination of 
knowledge, skill and attitude. This has been communicated and practiced throughout the university. 
For employers, they make big savings for training or retraining of new employees. Job-seekers once having found a job means fewer burdens for their family 
and society. This, in return, brings good reputation for the university as an ideal destination for both students and employers. More students mean more secured 
jobs for HaUI staff. 
Transparency 
- Triple transparency: Commitment to Quality, Announcement of Facilities, and Financial Disclosure. 
- Annual reports disclosed to all staff through different communication channels: through the organisational mail system, through annual departmental 
meetings and organisational annual general meetings. 
Recruitment and Admissions 
+ Students: 
+ Staff: 
Students admission strictly follow regulations governed by the Ministry of Education and Training. 
Staff recruitment notice is announced on Haui official website. Selection procedures are varied for different positions but the same for teaching staff of the same 
faculty. Shortlistings are communicated through haui.edu.vn 
Exams 
There are procedures to assure test validity and reliability and a fair environment. 
- Teaching and testing are separated to avoid bribery. 
- Testing is organised in specific area of the campus. 
- Computers are equipped for Multiple choice tests. 
- 2 persons are assigned for 1 test room or marking of 1 paper. 
Transparency in 
Promotion and Tenure 
- Annual votes for manager Accountability. 
- Votes for new managing positions (the lowest position required votes is Vice Dean or equivalent) 
-5 year Tenure is for position of Dean and upwards, votes by subordinates are required for re-assignment. 
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Số 46.2018 ● Tạp chí KHOA HỌC & CÔNG NGHỆ 141
In theory, by improving working conditions and 
partially raising the quality of lives for staff, HaUI might 
enrich the asset for itself. Qualified staffs produce high 
quality products, creating benefits for all stakeholders: 
students find jobs, employers find employees, the 
university attracts more students, staff have secured 
jobs, and ultimately reducing burden on the whole 
society. The practice of CSR more or less leads to positive 
gains for the environment especially when students build 
5S into their habit. In other words, this does not enable 
sustainable development for the university alone but to 
Vietnam in general. Such sustainable development 
promises a vision fulfilled: some HaUI’s training courses 
earn national and international recognition. 
Retranslated Baldridge in Pham Thi Lan Phuong (2009), 
at “If universities do not know what they are doing, usually 
they do not know how to do it”. The findings proved HaUI is 
doing CSR. In this specific case, CSR may not only stand for 
Corporate Social Responsibilities but also College Social 
Responsibilities. 
5. CONCLUSION 
The rapid changes in aspects especially science and 
technology, has led universities to question about their 
roles. They are now expected to do more than just comply 
with the law. Universities are no longer just institutions of 
higher education and research, which grant academic 
degrees in a variety of subjects, but rather, they are turning 
into ones which train responsible people, and create 
cutting edge knowledge to solve the social issues and 
problems. Therefore, they need to pay great attention to 
both strategies and practices of human rights, labour 
practice, environment and anti-corruption. 
For business enterprises, performing CSR helps to create 
a good reputation and competitive advantage. Since 
having stated that students are the “customers” of the 
university, HaUI should behave in a business-like manner. 
Therefore, implementing CSR activities should also be 
considered the way to gain a competitive advantage and 
good reputation for HaUI especially now not alone HaUI is 
facing challenges the biggest of which is the increasing 
competitiveness among universities. In this view, CSR at 
universities/ colleges can read as either Corporate Social 
Responsibilities or College Social Responsibilities. 
The study shows that HaUI is conducting CSR activities 
but it is questionable if HaUI leaders, staff and other 
stakeholders have any perceptions about CSR, or if all CSR 
activities and programs are implemented in an effective 
and efficient manner. This is a considerable limitation of the 
study, which calls for further researches. Further researches 
might also examine CSR practices at other educational and 
training units. 
The authors have also failed to get any evidence of any 
policy for payment for students who join the production/ 
manufacturing process during their apprenticeship. This is 
an important issue in human rights that need further 
investigation. Mozes et al. (2011)m concluded that higher 
level of work motivation result in higher level of employee 
CSR involvement. Further study at HaUI should be other 
factors that increase staff involvement in CSR. It is also 
suggested that research to be conducted on relationship 
between CSR and the performance of individual programs/ 
departments as well as the entire organisation./. 
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