The relationship with internal and external actors on the part of higher education institutions (HEIs) is a fundamental factor for them to fully exercise their role in sustainable development and the evolution of individuals, organizations and society as a whole. In this sense, this study aims to analyze the literature about stakeholder management in HEIs and to provide guidelines to support managers of HEIs to enhance stakeholder management practices.
This research was conducted through a bibliometric analysis followed by a content analysis to propose the guidelines to support HEIs’ managers in improving stakeholder management practices.
The guidelines were proposed for each of the following seven areas: engagement and governance; innovation and knowledge management; education for sustainable development; responsible research, innovation and collaborative partnerships; organisational change management; social responsibility; and performance management and sustainability report.
Although the topic addressed has gained traction in the academic community, the literature fails to provide guidelines to support managers of HEIs enhance stakeholder management practices. From a theoretical standpoint, the increasing recognition of the importance of stakeholder engagement reflects a paradigm shift in understanding sustainability and social responsibility in HEIs. On a practical level, managers can use the guidelines to promote effective dialogue, increase stakeholder engagement and collaborative partnerships.
