Understanding Student Engagement in Higher Education: The Contribution of Academic Library Spaces

This study has been designed to analyze the role of academic library spaces to foster participation of students in learning at tertiary level. Academic library spaces have been providing facilitative environment to the students for their learning. The study has been based on quantitative study design and conducted at a public sector university. The students of sociology and economics constitute the population of the study. A sample of 212 students has been selected through proportionate random sampling technique by using sampling frame. A cross-section survey has been conducted using structured questionnaire. The questionnaire has been based on different sections and an attitudinal scale of (dis)agreement has been used to measure the response of the students. A pilot testing has been done to check the reliability of the tool and the data analysis include Chi-Square, and regression analysis to draw results and conclusion. The study findings point out that silent zone spaces, creative learning, and collaborative learning have favorable effects on engagement of students in learning. Similarly, communication skills learning, active learning, and effective learning have also predicted participation of students in learning at tertiary level. The study findings indicate that academic library spaces have contributed towards the engagement of students in learning process in higher education. Further, the study also indicates that engagement of students in learning has been linked with the academic library spaces in higher education.