Student Engagement - From Teacher-centred to Student-centred Practice

In the context of higher education (HE), terms such as student engagement, student voice and student partnership are often used interchangeably which can lead to inconsistency, confusion, and misunderstanding. In addition, the pandemic which meant the cessation of in-person learning for a considerable period has meant that aspects of student engagement, in particular those related to how students and staff are feeling, are brought into focus and perhaps need to be considered even more than before. This chapter sets out to demystify student engagement – by conceptualising what it is and how we, as educators, can promote engagement by changing from a teacher centred to a student-centred approach. It also considers active learning, pathways to learning, the role and benefits of partnership (staff and students) as an approach to student engagement. Practical recommendations for staff and students are also put forward to optimise student engagement for all.