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Purpose: The main purpose of the article is to highlight the importance of CSR and USR, evaluate CSR practices in Polish public universities of economics, and provide actionable recommendations for improving CSR practices at universities. Design/methodology/approach: A comparative analysis of the 5 main economic universities in Poland was carried out on the basis of publicly available online sources. Findings: Overall, the findings indicate that Polish public economic universities are actively engaged in implementing CSR strategies. Their activities are diverse and tailored to their specific contexts, evidencing a strong commitment to promoting sustainable development, ethical conduct, and societal well-being. The research highlights successful strategies and provides recommendations that can serve as a valuable resource for enhancing CSR practices in higher education. Research limitations/implications: While this research provides a comprehensive overview of CSR practices at major public economic universities in Poland, future studies should address these limitations and expand the scope of analysis to include diverse perspectives, rigorous quantitative measures, and broader institutional contexts. Practical implications: The research provides valuable insights and practical recommendations that can significantly enhance the implementation of CSR practices in higher education institutions. By adopting these recommendations, universities can improve their societal and environmental impacts, enhance stakeholder engagement, foster innovation, and achieve a competitive edge in the education sector. The commercial and economic implications highlight substantial benefits not only for the universities but also for the broader communities they serve. Social implications: The research has significant social implications that extend beyond the academic community. It can influence public attitudes towards CSR, drive corporate and environmental responsibility, inform public and industry policies, and enhance the quality of life. By showcasing the positive impact of CSR initiatives in universities, the research can inspire wider adoption of ethical and sustainable practices across various sectors, contributing to a more equitable and sustainable society. Originality/value: The paper makes significant contributions by offering a detailed comparative analysis of CSR practices in Polish economic universities, integrating CSR and USR concepts, providing actionable recommendations, and addressing a broad audience. Its novel insights and practical guidance have the potential to influence the development and implementation of CSR strategies, fostering a culture of sustainability and social responsibility in the higher education sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Galectins constitute a class of lectins that specifically interact with β-galactoside sugars in glycoconjugates and are implicated in diverse cellular processes, including transport, autophagy or signaling. Since most of the activity of galectins depends on their ability to bind sugar chains, galectins exert their functions mainly in the extracellular space or at the cell surface, which are microenvironments highly enriched in glycoconjugates. Galectins are also abundant inside cells, but their specific intracellular functions are largely unknown. Here we report that galectin-1, -3, -7 and -8 directly interact with the proteinaceous core of fibroblast growth factor 12 (FGF12) in the cytosol and in nucleus. We demonstrate that binding of galectin-1 to FGF12 in the cytosol blocks FGF12 secretion. Furthermore, we show that intracellular galectin-1 affects the assembly of FGF12-containing nuclear/nucleolar ribosome biogenesis complexes consisting of NOLC1 and TCOF1. Our data provide a new link between galectins and FGF proteins, revealing an unexpected glycosylation-independent intracellular interplay between these groups of proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]