Engaging for Belonging

A shifting political and technological landscape combined with increased competition and financial pressure have reshaped the way higher education institutions fulfil their core business of education, collaboration, research and service. Evolving models of online learning have fuelled international competition, while the changing technological environment in which universities operate, provides students with myriad social networking sites in which to extend the informal curriculum. In Australia, an increasing intake of international students, quotas for the inclusion of more diverse cohorts, and changes to government policy and funding are placing new demands on higher education institutions (Australian Government, 2017; Koziol, 2018). As universities contend with the challenge of engaging students in this changing environment, a positive outcome has been a renewed focus on the student experience, including how to enhance student engagement and foster a sense of belonging between cohort peers, staff, and institutions.