Student Disengagement Problem |
If a hospital reported that most of its patients were dissatisfied with their treatment experience, it would trigger immediate concern. If an airline revealed that a majority of passengers felt disconnected from its services, public pressure would follow quickly. Yet when national higher education surveys indicate that many university students feel disengaged from their learning experiences, the response from institutions is often far more muted. According to the 2023 Lumina Foundation-Gallup State of Higher Education survey, only 38 per cent of college students in the United States reported feeling actively engaged in their studies. While engagement levels vary across institutions and disciplines, the broader trend raises serious questions about the student experience in contemporary higher education. Student disengagement is no longer an isolated classroom issue; it is increasingly becoming a structural challenge affecting retention, well-being, learning outcomes, and institutional trust. The signs of disengagement are increasingly visible across university campuses. Research conducted by Wiley found that many undergraduate students struggle to remain attentive and engaged during lectures, particularly in large or highly passive classroom environments. Multiple studies conducted after the COVID-19 pandemic have also highlighted declining classroom participation, reduced motivation, and increased feelings of emotional exhaustion among students. Although remote learning intensified some of these patterns, disengagement concerns existed even........