Motivation of higher education students: a single student engagement case study.

Abstract

In order for higher education students to perform well academically, they need to be engaged and intrinsically or self-motivated. They require motivational programmes with tools and techniques to guide them to take responsibility for their learning, perform well at assessments and graduate successfully. Research was conducted on a group of higher education students to investigate whether the implementation of a specific motivational intervention programme called ‘Concepts for Academic Performance’ results in improved performance, responsible attitudes and increased throughput rate. The aims of the research were to engage and motivate students while instilling a positive attitude towards learning, and to measure if the motivational programme increases student throughput rate through improved performance. Both quantitative and qualitative data were gathered, analysed and compared at pre-test and post-test phases. The findings reveal that students achieved higher academic scores in their post-test versus their pre-test and that they developed positive attitudes to learning and assessment after experiencing the motivational programme.