Student engagement and student characteristics in research universities

Abstract

The research universities enable the students to have a unique environment for learning and other experiences. The aim of this article is to explore student engagement in one research university in Brazil, the effects of student socioeconomic and academic characteristics and their associations with university structures, academic performance and student pathways. The data were answers from the Student Experience in the Research University international survey applied in 2012 and longitudinal academic registers. The study used both principal component analysis and also multiple Linear Regression Models. There were five modes of engagement found: two related to curricular engagement (one with professors and the other outside the classroom); social and leisure engagement; curricular disengagement and extracurricular engagement. The main effects are associated with the disciplines. Regarding enrollment, there was a negative effect on the curricular engagement with professors among dropout students and those still enrolled after seven years of the survey application had. The results are in line with other studies that associate disciplines with student engagement and the latter with student success.