Civil Engineering Students; What Stops Them Engaging: Motivation, Work or Family?

Abstract

The engagement of undergraduate students with their university is an important factor in the quality of their learning experience. The central question of this paper is how to understand the apparent disengagement from university of a cohort of first year civil engineering students. A questionnaire was used to investigate the motivation and barriers to learning of the students. The results suggest that students may be well motivated and may also severely restrict contact with their university due to commitments to employment and family. In conclusion, implications for the academic management of courses are considered.

Keywords:

• motivation
• engagement
• barriers to learning
• study time