Background and Objectives: Academic departments are key to improving the efficiency of the higher education system. By stepping out of the ivory tower and engaging with social life, they possess the capacity to solve emerging social problems. The aim of the present research was to identify the obstacles to the participation of academic departments in strengthening social accountability

Methods: This research was conducted using a case study method. The research population included all heads of academic departments in the Faculty of Humanities at Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan. Using a criterion-based method and the principle of data saturation, 9 individuals were selected as participants. The instrument used was a semi-structured interview. For data analysis, the thematic analysis method was employed.

Findings: It revealed that the barriers to the realization of social responsibility by academic departments include: the marginalization of interdisciplinary collaboration, the nature of activities and beliefs, limited engagement of faculty with the local community, confining social responsibility to charitable and voluntary activities, upstream laws and documents, low awareness of faculty members regarding the university's social responsibility, social responsibility assessment criteria, motivational barriers, centralized policymaking, distrust of academics, and the lack of embrace of the public scholarship approach.

Conclusion: In conclusion, it can be said that to address the issues and problems of society, identifying the obstacles to the participation of academic departments in strengthening social accountability can promise a bright future for the sustainable development of society.