The international diversity of student engagement

This chapter focuses on presenting an overview of the existing literature on student engagement and drawing on the literature to develop a clearer definition of the concept. The term ‘student engagement’ has become commonplace in global writings on higher education. However, the meanings of this term are actually quite diverse. One of the reasons for this diversity is that the specific who, what, where, when, how, and why of student engagement differ significantly across countries. In addition to identifying the responsibility for student engagement, the investigation into the objectives of student engagement is essential for developing a clearer understanding of the concept. The core objective of micro-level student engagement is the improvement of learning experiences and outcomes for the individual student. The primary objective of student engagement in meso-level is the inclusion of the voice of the students in educational evaluation and enhancement. The macro-level objective of student engagement lies in the reflection of university operations in benefits for students.