Corporate Social Responsibility and Equal Opportunities: The Impact of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Scholarships

Abstract

The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation is one of the most important philanthropic institutions in Portugal, recognized for its strategic use of corporate social responsibility to promote equal opportunities in higher education. This work aims to analyze the social and educational impact of its scholarship program, evaluating the Foundation's contribution to reducing inequalities and promoting social mobility. The methodology is based on the analysis of secondary sources, including institutional reports, academic studies, and news articles. The results highlight transformative effects on the beneficiaries' trajectories, reinforcing merit, inclusion, and human development. A limitation is the lack of primary data collection from scholarship recipients or stakeholders.