Mini-Fest on Student Engagement
and Co-Design

This session has been inspired by a sector and local debate relating to decreasing and perceived lower student attendance at in-person timetabled classes at university level education (Dickinson, 2023). Across global higher education, there have been several trends emerging in sector forums and on social media, relating to student attendance at in-person classes having significantly decreased post-COVID-19. This same occurrence of lower student attendance has been reported by academic colleagues across UK Higher Education, including Portsmouth (Dunbar-Morris, 2023). There are numerous theories from staff 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 (Richards, 2023). Although many of these explanations have substance, there is an urgent need to discuss, research and debate at Portsmouth, regarding the reasons students may be choosing or are unable to, attend timetabled sessions post-COVID- 19. This session will share some of the literature and sector debates on the topic.