88% of US faculty students feel safe at their institutions but, at the same time, 23% have experienced offensive behavior, discrimination, isolation or harassment at their higher education institutions.
This 2015 data from the National Survey of Student Engagement – a US universities initiative that gathers information for research and best practices – shows that there are still a lot of pending issues about student engagement in higher education.
Due to this, US and UK universities have dedicated the last years and decades to study and identify key factors that explain how the sense of belonging between students and institutions is created and which strategies can really improve student retention through engagement. These efforts are certainly based on the importance of engagement which we’ve explained in a previous blog as a variable that helps to improve student retention rates and a better indicator of educational quality than ‘satisfaction’.
Thanks to these efforts, anglo universities have developed several strategies such as collaborative learning, supporting positive teacher-student relationships, enhancing learning significance – according to education consultant and researcher Nicolas Pino James (PhD) – friendly class environment for all cultures and creating significant and challenging learning experiences, as Pearson consultant Tammy Stephens (PhD) says.
Let´s see some practical applications of engagement strategies.
Texas: Help to all
The University of Texas (US) showed in 2014, at University Innovation Alliance event, a scholarship program which –according to Inside Higher Ed- “is aimed at students who are considered the least likely to graduate on time.”
In the last years this higher education institution has choosen to admit more low-income students, specifically the best from public schools. “But getting into one of the more prestigious public research universities often isn't enough –Inside Higher Ed adds- these students tend to need additional support to pass courses that they are underprepared by their high schools to take.”
That’s why the institution introduced the University Leadership Network, an initiative created to help these students to graduate, and the Texas Interdisciplinary Plan which “seeks to create a small-college feel for students from low-income backgrounds. The program offers mentoring and extra advising to students who Laude (David, program’s creator) has identified to be in the 40 percent of students who are most in danger of not graduating on time.”
Exeter: full connected teachers
Times Higher Education (THE) explains the case of the University of Exeter (UK), where an unprecedented program has been implemented. “One student per department was hired and trained to teach their lecturers how to use the open-source learning platform Moodle, transforming the use of technology in teaching.”
Thanks to this, not only teachers can provide a better learning experience, but also students find a new way to get involved into the academic life.
“The race is on to find new ways to employ students as change agents and this too is being described as student engagement,” Times Higher Education adds.
“There is some evidence that universities with more developed student engagement mechanisms, of one kind or another, are improving their NSS (National Student Survey) scores faster than others. The difficulty in interpreting this evidence is that student engagement means different things at different institutions and those institutions that are serious about student engagement are probably serious about all kinds of other quality enhancement mechanisms at the same time,” THE says.
So it’s very clear that engagement and retention strategies are constantly evolving and higher education institutions should foresee and be prepared for changes.
Which are the most effective engagement strategies in your country? Are they focused on student backgrounds, learning experiences, or student-teacher relationship? We invite you to leave a comment.