Social value analysis: the case of Pompeu Fabra University

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to explore how to quantify the social value generated by higher education from a social accounting perspective. The proposed approach is integrated social value (ISV) analysis, a social accounting model that considers both the economic value and the social value created by an organisation for its stakeholders.

Design/methodology/approach The ISV analysis has been applied to Pompeu Fabra University, following a participatory action research process with representatives of the university and its stakeholders.

Findings The final ISV includes not only the social value created through the university's economic activity - captured by economic and financial accounting indicators - but also the specific social value created for the different stakeholders by means of non-market relationships, which were monetised through the use of indicators and financial proxies.

Research limitations/implications Like other social accounting methodologies, ISV analysis suffers from some limitations regarding data availability and economic pricing, that partly will be resolved with maturation of the methodology and increasing standardisation.

Practical implications By using appropriate proxies, the non-market value of the university can be monetised and integrated with university's market value. The social value results become a valuable tool for developing useful indicators for internal management and external communication.

Social implications The process of measuring the social value created by universities provides a way to meet the rising demands for greater accountability and transparency and facilitates engagement with stakeholders on how these institutions are contributing to a sustainable society.

Originality/value ISV is a recently proposed social accounting model that combines an organisation's economic and social results into a single concept of value creation and thus contributes to advance the field of social accounting.