Two students of CoEFTL’s Irene Karayianni presented their individual posters at the Virtual Undergraduate Research Conference (VURC) 2023. Maria Goulia and Sindi Cara explored, under the guidance of Professor Karayianni, key factors influencing student engagement in higher education.
The first study, presented by Maria Goulia, explored the impact of student-instructor connectedness and immediacy on student engagement. Findings revealed that both an instructor’s verbal and non-verbal immediacy, along with a strong student-instructor connection, significantly predicted and enhanced student engagement.
The second study, led by Sindi Cara, examined the role of student-instructor rapport and peer support in fostering student engagement. While strong rapport with instructors was positively associated with engagement, the expected correlation between peer support and engagement was not found. The study also highlighted the importance of office hours as a tool for boosting engagement.
These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the factors driving student success.
To access Goulia’s poster visit here and to access Cara’s poster visit here.
