What is student engagement?
Student engagement is about taking an active role in your university experience. This means engaging with your learning, contributing to the university community, and making the most of the opportunities and support available to develop your skills, achieve your goals and shape your experience.
This could include:
- Attending all timetabled teaching sessions, such as lectures, labs and seminars, and actively contributing to discussions.
- Engaging with online and in-person learning resources, including SurreyLearn, Panopto, Kortext and the Library.
- Submitting assessments on time and completing required examinations.
- Seeking and acting on feedback from your academics to support your learning.
- Sharing feedback through Course Reps and your Students’ Union to help shape your experience.
- Taking part in employability development opportunities, including the Student Success Coach module (where relevant), to build skills, reflect on strengths and prepare for future careers.
- Engaging with your Student Success Coach and/or Personal Tutor for academic, personal and professional support.
- Using Employability Hub resources, including careers information, appointments, events and job opportunities.
- Joining sports clubs, societies and interest groups to develop skills, make connections and enjoy university life.
Why is engagement important?
We want you to leave University with more than just qualifications - it’s also about developing interpersonal skills and feeling connected to a positive, inclusive community. Engagement with educational and social opportunities is essential to gain these skills, helping you feel a sense of belonging and increasing your employability.
Read more about why engagement and attendance are important
What is expected from me?
As a member of our student community, expect you to actively participate in your learning:
- Attendance is essential and is just one part of your overall picture of engagement. You should aim to attend all your timetable teaching sessions (lectures, tutorials, labs, seminars, workshops and placements) and all your exams and assessments, unless you have pre-agreed reasonable adjustments in place.
- Make full use of learning opportunities through engagement with academic staff, such as Personal Tutors, Student Success Coaches, and project / dissertation supervisors, and online resources including SurreyLearn, the Library and our Employability Hub.
- Record your attendance or absence for all timetabled teaching sessions using MySurrey Attendance.
Want to know more about how you can be a key part of our thriving community? Have a read of our Staff Student Partnership Manifesto.
Specific guidance for different student groups
Our approach may differ slightly for different student groups who have regulatory requirements on engagement and attendance.
Support for when your attendance and participation drops
Firstly, there is no need to worry. We are here to work with you to improve your attendance or get your assessments completed, as long as you are willing to make changes and show progress.
We know that there could be many reasons for your attendance dropping, or stopping you from submitting an assessment on time, including life events, work, health and family or caring responsibilities. These changes could be temporary or long term.
The important thing when this happens is that you talk to us - we are here to help and, if necessary, find suitable adjustments to help you along.
Read about how we support students whose engagement has dropped off