Relational Student Engagement in Co-curricular Spaces: Evidence from a South African University

Student engagement is a widely researched and utilized concept to enhance student experiences and outcomes. Most research on student engagement, however, focuses on curricular engagement with relatively little emphasis placed on the co-curriculum. This study utilizes Case’s theory of relational enga...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of student affairs in Africa 2022, Vol.10 (1)
Main Authors: Garton, Paul, Wawrzynski, Matthew, Wawrzynski, Matthew R., Lemon, Jacob, Naik, Sapna
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Black students
Classrooms
College campuses
Colleges & universities
Curricula
Education
Educational objectives
Focus groups
Learning
Student participation
Student retention
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Summary:Student engagement is a widely researched and utilized concept to enhance student experiences and outcomes. Most research on student engagement, however, focuses on curricular engagement with relatively little emphasis placed on the co-curriculum. This study utilizes Case’s theory of relational engagement to analyse findings from three focus groups conducted at a university in South Africa to better understand how relational engagement is instantiated in the co curriculum and how the co-curriculum differs from the standard academic curriculum in terms of engagement. In particular, we show relational engagement is just as important in the co-curriculum, highlighting student relations to broader university life, to fellow students, and to communities beyond the campus.
ISSN:2311-1771
2307-6267
DOI:10.24085/jsaa.v10i1.2193