Abstract
In the UK students have traditionally moved away from home to study in higher education, but this is changing as a consequence of greater participation, and the shift in responsibility for financing study from the State to individual students and their families. This research under took 60 qualitative interviews with students of all ages who defined themselves as ‘commuters’, who continue to live at home whilst studying. The study found that while the students largely viewed themselves as ‘good students’ aiming to engage fully in their academic studies, the stresses and strains – and cost and time – involved in travelling - resulted in students evaluating the utility of a trip to campus, considering whether their resources would be better spent studying at home. In addition, these students tended to be less engaged in ‘enhancement’ activities, and had very little social engagement with HE peers. Commuter students achieve less good outcomes: they are more likely to withdraw early, achieve lower attainment and are less likely to secure graduate employment on completion. This paper considers the implications for student engagement and teaching and learning in higher education of a larger commuter student population, in an effort to achieve greater equity in student outcomes.
Highlights
1.1 Context In the UK there is a long tradition for higher education (HE) students to move away from the family home and live in scholarly communities within or close to the academic institution
In this study we developed the concept of different sites of engagement, and focused on commuter students‟ experiences in the academic, enhancement and social spheres. „Academic‟ refers to students‟ active involvement in their learning; „enhancement‟ relates to participation in co-curricular and enrichment activities which contribute to personal and professional development; and „social‟ engagement includes informal peer interactions and participation in more formally organized sport, social and leisure activities with peers
Once at their place of study, commuter students found other practical challenges relating to their lack of a physical space on campus to store belongings and spend time
Summary
1.1 Context In the UK there is a long tradition for higher education (HE) students to move away from the family home and live in scholarly communities within or close to the academic institution. This is changing, as a consequence of the expansion of the sector, which is approaching a mass HE system with around 50% of young people progressing into HE, including more from lower socio-economic groups. In this study we developed the concept of different sites of engagement, and focused on commuter students‟ experiences in the academic, enhancement and social spheres. The study included undergraduates and postgraduates; full and part-time students; and mature and young students
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