Engaging freshers to final years': Embedding student engagement in engineering education

Based upon the findings of an Action Research study in which students' experiences were analysed at two key stages of their career, Foundation and Graduate levels, this paper sets out to discuss the issues around student engagement. Set within a context where students are paying more for their education than ever before, the paper discusses how to promote student engagement in what seems to be an 'culture of self-entitlement' wherein students expect to simply 'pass'. Aimed at academic and support staff alike, the paper describes how survey findings were used to inform decision making and ultimately impact the student experience. The conclusion argues that through the application of evidence-based practice it is possible to promote student engagement at all levels of the engineering learning cycle.