CIT Teaching & Learning Unit

Project Description

Occupation: Student? Temporalities, liminalities, and agencies in contemporary Higher Education

Project Lead

Dr Marian Hurley (marian.hurley@mtu.ie)

Project Status

• In Progress

Project Lead Home Department

• MTU Cork – Marketing & International Business

Alignment to HEA and NFETLHE SATLE 2023-24 Themes

• Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)

Alignment to MTU Strategy Themes

• Learner Education & Experience
• People & Community

Project Description

This one-year project builds on findings from a 2024-25 study exploring MTU students’ use of learning time and their engagement challenges. It revealed an increasing tendency for students to view university study as a “9 to 5” commitment, precipitating complex decision-making regarding attendance and learning / assessment priorities. The project aims to deepen understanding of the multiplicity of contemporary student identity paradigms, to uncover the social and institutional factors shaping them, and to foster dialogue between students and staff to balance sometimes contradictory perspectives. Partnering with students, the project team will conduct learner- and staff surveys and interviews with a view to developing and piloting materials and interventions supporting shared understandings of student engagement and rethinking learning experiences across MTU’s six campuses.

What is the anticipated impact of this project?

This project addresses a key issue in student engagement in contemporary higher education by developing resources and actions to address the much-vaunted engagement ‘crisis.’ While initial impact will be institutional, findings and outputs have potential to influence the wider sector. The project will deliver: (1) in-depth insights into learner and staff perspectives on student identities and temporalities of learning; (2) resources and guidance for students and staff to respond to a core sectoral challenge; and (3) address a significant gap in the literature on contemporary student engagement.

HOW Will the outputs of this project be DISSEMINATED?

Dissemination will focus on three areas: (1) student-facing resources and in-class interventions to clarify the full-time student experience, to be piloted in 2026-27; (2) staff-facing materials and discussions presenting findings on student beliefs and the student-staff forum outcomes; and (3) research publications exploring studenthood paradigms and key project insights.

Team Members