What’s driving post-pandemic university student engagement? Findings from a design faculty

A study, published in The Australian Educational Researcher by James Thompson and Claudia A Rivera Munoz, investigates the factors influencing university students’ day-to-day decisions to attend and spend time on campus. The research examines the interplay of academic, social, convenience, and health-related motivations. The findings highlight the significant role of campus environment, such as noise levels, lighting, and crowding, and the value of in-person social connections in shaping on-campus engagement. Situated within post-pandemic discussions of flexible learning and student autonomy, the study also raises concerns about potential disconnection arising from increased flexibility.