Engagement is a design problem, not a student problem

What this episode covers

This week, Dr Stuart Grey discusses engagement as a design problem. Weak engagement often tells universities something about the conditions they have created, not simply something about student motivation. The episode covers student engagement research, generative AI feedback, Glasgow's assessment and feedback tool and Wonkhe's AI assessment report. In This Episode - Why engagement gaps often point to institutional design. - How unclear briefs, late feedback and inconsistent expectations shape student behaviour. - What research suggests about institutional design and student background. - Why students may use generative AI for feedback while still trusting teachers more. - How Glasgow's assessment and feedback tool shows action on student voice. - Why late feedback can drive student AI use. Student Voice Practice Stuart starts with a deceptively simple question: when engagement is weak, where should universities look first? Research Spotlight Student engagement depends more on institutional design than student background: https://www.studentvoice.ai/blog/student-engagement-depends-more-on-institutional-design-than-student-background/ Students use Generative AI for feedback, but trust teachers more: https://www.studentvoice.ai/blog/students-use-generative-ai-for-feedback-but-trust-teachers-more/ Sector Watch Glasgow's assessment and feedback tool shows how universities can act on student voice: https://www.studentvoice.ai/blog/glasgow-assessment-feedback-tool-student-voice/ Wonkhe's AI assessment report shows how late feedback drives student AI use: https://www.studentvoice.ai/blog/wonkhe-ai-assessment-report-late-feedback-student-ai-use/ From the Archive What do art students need from learning resources?: https://www.studentvoice.ai/blog/art-students-views-on-learning-resources/ King's College London partners with Student Voice AI: https://www.studentvoice.ai/blog/student-voice-and-kings-college-london-2025/ Do adult nursing students feel their courses support personal development?: https://www.studentvoice.ai/blog/adult-nursing-students-views-on-personal-development/ Practical Takeaway Take one engagement concern and identify the design friction underneath it: unclear expectations, timing, access, workload, assessment structure or feedback delay. Fixing the design is usually more useful than another reminder. Full episode page: https://www.studentvoice.ai/podcast/episodes/010-engagement-is-a-design-problem-not-a-student-problem/ Subscribe to Student Voice Weekly: https://www.studentvoice.ai/blog/newsletter/

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