Beyond the screen: student experiences of social connection in a hybrid university learning environment

Abstract

ABSTRACT Social connection is hard to measure but significant in the learning process. With universities adopting digitally-orientated approaches, new approaches are required to manage student social connection in university campuses on-site and online. Employing placemaking theories to address people-place-technology relations, this article presents a multi-methods qualitative study of a hybrid-style master’s class in Switzerland. It examines how students build or maintain social connections through three indicators: socialising, support, and belonging. Data from questionnaires, observations, focus groups, and interviews were collected over one semester. Findings indicate that informal and private spaces, both physical and virtual, influence social connections. While students preferred in-person interaction, technology helped sustain networks when face-to-face meetings were less feasible. This highlights the importance of integrating communication technologies in universities and offering informal and private spaces on physical and digital campuses. Through these findings, this research enhances understanding of digital university cultures for an increasingly online student population.