Exploring the Mediating Role of Lecturer Competence in the Relationship Between Service Quality and Academic Engagement in Higher Education

The higher education sector has witnessed significant changes in recent years, with an increasing emphasis on service quality, lecturer competence, and academic engagement as important determinants of academic success. This research aims to explore the mediating role of lecturer competence between service quality and the academic engagement of students in higher education. The relational survey model was used to determine the relationships between service quality, lecturer competence, and academic engagement. A conceptual model regarding service quality, academic engagement, and lecturer competence was developed in this regard. To test the model, appropriate data were collected and analyzed. The findings indicate that the quality of service in higher education is directly related to academic engagement. There is a positive and significant relationship between service quality and lecturer competence. Similarly, a positive and significant relationship exists between lecturer competence and academic engagement. Furthermore, lecturer competence is a mediating factor in the relationship between service quality and academic engagement.