Conceptualising the student experience: a new framework.

Conference: Society for Research into Higher Education Annual Conference.

Dates: 9-11 December 2015

Abstract:

The student experience is central to the functioning of modern universities, yet its conceptual understanding remains limited. A relational perspective to HE can enhance our understanding of the student experience. Such a perspective foregrounds ongoing relational exchange between students and their relational partners: academics and institution. This paper develops a conceptual framework which seeks to identify key relational concepts which when active can enhance the student experience. The framework proposes three exogenous variables, affective commitment towards academics, commitment balance between students and institution, and gratitude. Together these drive endogenous variables of engagement and positive word-of-mouth communication. The paper provides a rationale for the development of this framework in readiness for the framework’s use within a future quantitative study using structural equation modeling analysis to determine its suitability as an explanation of the dynamics of the student experience.

Source: Manual