Providing a selection of critical pieces on the key challenges and debates in student engagement in higher education, this edited collection of sector-leading, scholarly-informed critical reflections is designed to consider and build upon what can be done to advance student engagement.

By problematising student engagement practice, this book explores how to strengthen policies, recognise the issues and create solutions to overcome barriers and tensions. It considers topics such as diversity, accessibility, representativeness, evidencing impact, data analytics, the campus estate and the impact of COVID-19. The contributors provide lessons learned and knowledge from the field to make practice with students more considered and robust for the challenges ahead in the post-pandemic university.

Moving beyond endorsing student engagement and offering best practice to critically reflect on and challenge our engagements with students in contemporary higher education, this book is ideal reading for all those developing education, course leaders and heads of academic departments, as well as anyone interested in advancing student engagement in their higher education setting.

About the Author

Tom Lowe is a Senior Lecturer in Higher Education at the University of Portsmouth (UK) and the Chair of Researching, Advancing and Inspiring Student Engagement (RAISE).

Reviews

'This book disrupts simplistic ideas about student engagement, turning over many a neoliberal stone to reveal questions of power at the heart of students' relationship to the University. It does exactly what it claims: advances student engagement and invites the reader to take a critical, reflective, and challenging stance about a concept that has become a buzzword. I recommend it highly.'

Prof Tansy Jessop NTF, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education, University of Bristol (UK).

'Anyone who has attempted to innovate their practice with students, run a student feedback workshop, or engage students as partners will know that there are numerous challenges. This edited collection draws together practitioners from across the field who discuss these challenges up-front, offering innovative recommendations and flexible practice to ensure students are truly included. There are important questions to be continuously addressed in our universities relating to inclusivity and equality opportunities to engage, and this book is a great starting point for colleagues looking to engage students within their area of the modern university.'

Prof Claire Hamshire NTF, Vice President (Europe), International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning & Head of International. Manchester Metropolitan University (UK).

'The book frames students clearly as invested members of the university community, and emphasises the importance of knowing about and embedding student engagement in all aspects of university life and work. Threaded through the book is the consistent message that each student is a unique learner who needs, in fact deserves, individual attention, and the task of achieving this is explored and explained in different contexts.'

Dr Rachel Forsyth PFHEA, Editor in Chief of the Student Engagement in Higher Education Journal & Project Leader, Lund University (Sweden).

'This book provides a much-needed, in-depth exploration of the context of student engagement in higher education today, and makes a powerful case for why we should continuously be reflecting on our current practices. It is both a detailed discussion of the current academic debates at play, while remaining an accessible resource for anyone interested in ensuring the success of student engagement.'

Livia Scott, Students' Union Community and Projects Officer, Wonkhe.

'This is an excellent volume, timely and comprehensive, which explores the variety of contexts for student engagement in today's HE landscape. Building on existing works, it continues to make the case for student engagement as a crucial focus for HE institutions, but the collection also problematises student engagement, challenging assumptions and investigating barriers. This critical dimension is a key strength of the collection. The recommendations for improving practice which emerge from its chapters are invaluable.'

Prof Stephen McVeigh, Chair of Researching, Advancing and Inspiring Student Engagement (RAISE) (2019-22) & Associate Dean - Education, Swansea University (UK).

Book Information
ISBN 9781032222509
Author Tom Lowe
Format Paperback
Page Count 294
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 580g