Abstract
Social responsibility positions universities as key economic, social, and cultural actors, helping develop a more engaging institutional identity for graduates. Lebanese universities lag behind international schools in alumni networking due to budget constraints. Additionally, the lack of effective governance mechanisms hinders universities’ ability to connect with their alumni effectively. These challenges emphasize the need to redesign the university experience to reinforce alumni relationships. This study examines the role of university social responsibility (USR) in activating alumni networks, with a focus on the mediating effect of student engagement in universities in northern Lebanon. To validate the proposed theoretical model, a rigorous quantitative methodology was adopted, involving a series of multilevel statistical tests. Exploratory factor analysis refined the dimensions studied by eliminating weak items, thereby strengthening the internal consistency of the scales (Cronbach’s alpha > 0.80 for most dimensions). Convergent validity tests, correlations, and variance inflation factor (VIF) confirmed the strength of the relationships between variables, with no evidence of multicollinearity. Second-order structural equation modeling revealed a satisfactory model fit, supporting the fitness of the conceptual structure. Among the most notable results, the cultural dimension has the strongest impact, both directly and indirectly, on the activation of alumni networks, followed by the social dimension. Student engagement plays a central role as a mediator, confirming that an engaged student is more likely to remain connected to their university after graduation. Hence, a proactive and inclusive approach to managing university social responsibility fosters a strong relational ecosystem among the university, its students, and its graduates.
Keywords: Alumni Networks, Proactive, Social Responsibility, Student Engagement, Universities.