https://journal.qubahan.com/index.php/qaj <p><em>Qubahan Academic Journal</em> (QAJ) is a quarterly academic journal published by the Qubahan QAJ publishes original researches in <span class="il">Science</span>, Technology, <wbr />Education, Management fields. QAJ is a Peer-Reviewed Open Access journal. QAJ provides immediate, worldwide, barrier-free access to the full text of research articles without requiring a subscription to the journal. </p> Qubahan en-US Qubahan Academic Journal 2709-8206 https://journal.qubahan.com/index.php/qaj/article/view/2257 <p>Contemporary universities face increasing demands for transparency, social commitment, and academic excellence in increasingly complex and competitive environments. In this context, intellectual capital, university social responsibility, and institutional empowerment emerge as fundamental pillars for the strategic development of higher education institutions. This study aimed to analyze the importance of intellectual capital and social responsibility in universities as a strategic factor for empowerment in higher education. The bibliometric phase, based on publications indexed in Scopus, revealed sustained growth in global scientific production on these topics, as well as geographical and thematic gaps. The systematic review included 35 rigorously selected articles. It confirmed that intellectual capital strengthens organizational learning and innovation, that social responsibility improves institutional legitimacy and social relevance, and that empowerment fosters participatory governance and adaptability. The findings show that the interaction between these elements generates synergistic effects that improve institutional performance and support the development of more resilient and socially engaged universities. This study contributes to the theoretical consolidation of these constructs and offers empirical evidence that can guide university management policies and strategies. Future research should focus on regional comparative studies and longitudinal analyses to evaluate the long-term impact of integrated management approaches in diverse institutional contexts.</p> Carlos Enrique Coacalla-Castillo Corina Nanci Duran Ttito Roxana Julia Abarca Arrambide Miriam Vilma Vallejo Martínez Walter Luis Chucos Calixto Haydeé Quispe Berríos Freddy Frank Gonzales Quispe Alejandro Paredes Soria Copyright (c) 2026 Qubahan Academic Journal https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0 2026-04-04 2026-04-04 6 2 1 17 10.48161/qaj.v6n2a2257