Why Are Students Not Attending In-Person Classes Post-COVID-19? An Explorative Study in Student Engagement
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Across UK and global higher education, new trends in student engagement have emerged with in-person attendance having significantly decreased post-COVID-19. There are numerous theories suggesting reasons why a decrease in student attendance has occurred post COVID-19, such as a desire to learn online, the current cost of living crisis, and a further increase in poor mental health. Therefore, this research aims to explore this topic with elected programme-level Student Academic Representatives from three post-92 institutions to contribute to the national debate. The findings cement that the cost-of-living crisis has a significant impact on students’ choices to attend classes. However, the research also demonstrates that teaching quality and content remain at the heart of student decision-making when it comes to attendance and that HEPs therefore have control over developing solutions to this challenge by fore fronting the lived experiences of their students.
Authors: Tom Lowe, Conor Naughton, Tania Struetzel, Rebecca Adams, Jessica Walker, Philip Kynaston, Colum Mackey
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,900
OpenAlex ID: W4414355044