Development and validation of a robust multidimensional scale for University Social Innovation Management (USIM)

University social innovation has become an essential element in addressing complex social issues, although its measurement presents challenges due to its multidimensional nature and the lack of a clear consensus on its definition. This study aimed to develop and validate an instrument to measure University Social Innovation Management (USIM), based on a six-dimensional theoretical model. A questionnaire was developed based on Villa's (2014) theoretical framework and validated with the participation of six experts using Aiken's V coefficient. The questionnaire was administered to a sample of 500 students from 31 institutions in Peru, after a pilot test of 50 students. To assess reliability, Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega coefficients were applied to evaluate consistency. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted, where the model demonstrated a robust factor structure. The fit indices were relevant and robust, such as the chi-square/degrees of freedom ratio of 3.27, CFI of 0.964, TLI of 0.957, SRMR of 0.023 and RMSEA of 0.067. The model components showed substantial correlations between the dimensions (p<0.001), with values above 0.875. This instrument is a reliable and legitimate tool for assessing the management of social innovation in universities, providing a comprehensive resource for diagnosing and improving social innovation activities in higher education institutions. This study provides a framework for aligning university activities with social and cultural demands, improving the effectiveness of social innovation management and serving as a relevant and robust methodological tool for future measurements in higher education.