Why are students not attending in-person classes post-COVID-19? An explorative study in student engagement

Tom Lowe; Conor Naughton; Tania Struetzel; Rebecca Adams; Jessica Walker; Philip Kynaston; Colum Mackey

doi:10.1177/14697874251366213

Why are students not attending in-person classes post-COVID-19? An explorative study in student engagement

Tom Lowe, Conor Naughton, Tania Struetzel, Rebecca Adams, Jessica Walker, Philip Kynaston, Colum Mackey

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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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.

Original language	English
Journal	Active Learning in Higher Education
Early online date	19 Sept 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/14697874251366213
Publication status	Published - 19 Sept 2025

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Cite this

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AU - Kynaston, Philip

AU - Mackey, Colum

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