Student Engagement in the Educational Process at University

Introduction. The study addresses the issue of student engagement in the educational process, which is crucial for the quality of higher education and academic outcomes. The study focus is placed on regional universities, where this phenomenon remains understudied. Materials and Methods. The empirical basis comprises the results of an online survey of 483 students conducted at National Research Mordovia State University (March – April 2025). The methodology employed cluster analysis (SPSS), descriptive statistics, and cross-tabulation. Engagement was operationalized to encompass behavioral, cognitive, and emotional dimensions. Results. The findings revealed three levels of academic engagement: high, average, low; three types of social engagement: research-integrated, socially-oriented, limited. A negative trend in engagement levels was observed among senior students, along with variations across fields of study (with the highest indicators among medical students). The influence of group factors (cohesion, presence of leaders) and organizational factors (teaching quality, resource availability) on engagement was substantiated. Discussion and Conclusion. The study provides a comprehensive assessment of the level, nature, and determinants of student engagement. The obtained results establish a foundation for developing and implementing targeted measures aimed at enhancing the quality of the educational process and improving student academic outcomes.