The changing dynamics of student engagement

The overall aim of this chapter is to provoke reflection that perhaps how we engaged our students in learning was already evolving in reaction to new generational learning needs and a positive aspect of COVID19 was that it acted to catalyse changes across higher education practices. Research will outline how the ‘new norm’ within Higher Education should focus on how to engage students and the requirement to embrace the changing dynamics of student engagement and support requirements, given the wide range of challenges students face in a complex and uncertain world. The chapter focusses on this and that to encourage high learning engagement, strong support mechanisms need to be in place. It also outlines that this interaction and support requires high emotional intelligence and inclusive pedagogies to be interwoven into the fabric of teaching. The chapter concludes that whilst COVID19 meant wide scale change for HEIs that the best practices should create the ‘new norm’ in curriculum design and is an era where HE professionals should be proud of the legacy they leave.