An introduction to student engagement in higher education

Lowe, T. and El Hakim, Y. 2020. An introduction to student engagement in higher education. in: Lowe, T. and El Hakim, Y. (ed.) A Handbook for Student Engagement in Higher Education: Theory into Practice London Taylor & Francis.

Chapter titleAn introduction to student engagement in higher education
AuthorsLowe, T. and El Hakim, Y.
EditorsLowe, T. and El Hakim, Y.
Abstract

The term ‘student engagement’ (and disengagement) in higher education was conceptualised in the 1980s as a way to understand and reduce student boredom, alienation, and dropping out (Finn and Zimmer, 2012 ). It has also been described to represent both the time and energy students invest in educationally purposeful activities and the effort institutions devote to using effective educational practices (Kuh and Hu, 2001 ). However, in the past 15 years ‘student engagement’ has become a term used to refer to practices, opportunities and extra-curricular activities, which students become involved in to improve the student educational experience (NUS, 2012 ; Healey, Flint, and Harrington, 2014 ). This development of practice has been heavily influenced by theory and practice around working with ‘students as partners’ and student engagement in regards to co-creating curricula, enhancing learning and the wider student experience (Neary and Winn, 2009 ; Wait and Bols, 2015 , Dunne, 2016 ). Notably, the term student engagement has already had impact through its adoption in the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE, 2019 ). However this chapter gives an overview and focuses on practice where students have been active in student engagement educational development practices, projects or activities additionally or alongside the curriculum to contribute to HE educational development. This chapter will introduce many of the key areas of practice of student engagement in educational developments and will offer considerations for HE professionals embarking on new enhancements, research projects and initiatives.

Book titleA Handbook for Student Engagement in Higher Education: Theory into Practice
Year2020
PublisherTaylor & Francis
Publication dates
Published2020
Place of publicationLondon
Edition1st Edition
SeriesSEDA Series
ISBN9780429023033
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429023033-2
Web address (URL)https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9780429023033-2/introduction-student-engagement-higher-education-tom-lowe-yassein-el-hakim?context=ubx&refId=4110e049-7232-457e-8237-b1a4e42dfcd5

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