Student Engagement and Its Impact on Achievement in a Blended Learning Environment in Malaysia

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Marglet

Wawasan Open University (WOU) provides working Malaysians with access to higher education through open distance learning, while admitting learners from diverse ability levels, ages, and educational backgrounds. The central challenge is achieving effective engagement and support to promote retention and academic success. The paper shares WOU interventions to enhance engagement across five factors—tutorial participation, LMS use, WhatsApp groups, tutor communication via mail/telephone, and motivation and interest—within a starter course for university studies. Results show significant relationships between three factors and assessment components.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time30 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Wawasan Open University

Distance learning and learner diversity

Importance of student engagement in blended learning

Definitions and types of engagement

Asian Journal of Distance Education [http://www](http://www.AsianJDE.org)[.](http://www.AsianJDE.org)[AsianJDE](http://www.AsianJDE.org)[.](http://www.AsianJDE.org)[org](http://www.AsianJDE.org) © 2019 The Asian Society of Open and Distance Education ISSN 1347-9008 Asian J D E 2019 vol 14, no 1, pp 56-67 Student Engagement and Its Impact on Achievement in a Blended Learning Environment in Malaysia Jasmine Selvarani EMMANUEL Wawasan Open University, Penang, Malaysia [jasmineemmanuel@wou.edu.my](jasmineemmanuel@wou.edu.my | ORCID 0000-0002-635-8602)[ | ORCID 0000-0002-635-8602](jasmineemmanuel@wou.edu.my | ORCID 0000-0002-635-8602) Phalachandra BHANDIGADI Wawasan Open University, Penang, Malaysia [phalachandrab@wou.edu.my](phalachandrab@wou.edu.my) Lay Kee CH’NG Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia [mousse2964@gmail.com](mousse2964@gmail.com | ORCID 0000-0002-5871-0852)[ | ORCID 0000-0002-5871-0852](mousse2964@gmail.com | ORCID 0000-0002-5871-0852) ABSTRACT: Wawasan Open University (WOU) provides working Malaysians access to quality higher education via Open Distance Learning (ODL) . As admission of students involves students from diverse backgrounds, including diversity of ability, age groups and educational backgrounds, WOU faces the real challenge of effectively engaging and supporting these students so that they are retained in the system and are successful in their studies. Krause (2005) explains that when students are not receiving targeted assistance, they may fail to engage, ultimately resulting in failure to persist and succeed. Engagement is closely aligned with student dissatisfaction and potential to withdraw from study. The purpose of this paper is to share the efforts made by Wawasan Open University to enhance the levels of student engagement in five factors in terms of participation in Tutorial classes, Learning Management System (LMS), WhatsApp Groups, and Communication with the tutor through mails and telephone, and motivation and Interest in learning activities. This intervention was carried out for a starter (enabler) course called Learning Skills for University Studies. About 600 students enrol in this course every semester. The tutors who are the first contact persons in Open Distance Learning were oriented about the student engagement process and the process of rating the students on a 10-point scale on the 5 factors stated above. The findings indicate that three factors (Students’ participation in tutorial classes, participation in the Learning Management System and motivation and Interest) out of the five factors had significant relationships with all the three components of assessment. KEYWORDS: Student Engagement, Blended Learning, Student Performance. This work of the Asian Journal of Distance Education is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License ASIAN JOURNAL of DISTANCE EDUCATION 1. WAWASAN OPEN UNIVERSITY: Distance learning programmes allow greater flexibility of learning. They are often necessary for those who wish to enhance their professional development and/or gain higher-level qualifications while simultaneously continuing to work. Wawasan Open University (WOU) provides working Malaysians access to quality higher education via Open Distance Learning (ODL) regardless of their educational, ethnic or socioeconomic backgrounds. WOU students come from all walks of life, including school leavers, mature workers, full-time parents and even those between jobs. Many of them enter university studies through the open entry system and not traditional routes. The majority of students are over 21 years of age and there are students even in their 70’s. For most students, English is their second or third language and their primary motive for studying is professional development. As admission of students into higher education involves students from diverse backgrounds, including diversity of ability, age groups and educational backgroun

FAQs

What engagement challenge does Wawasan Open University face in blended learning?

WOU must effectively engage and support learners from diverse backgrounds so they remain in the system and succeed academically.

Which five factors did the paper target to enhance student engagement?

The interventions focused on participation in tutorial classes, the Learning Management System (LMS), WhatsApp groups, communication with the tutor via mails and telephone, and students’ motivation and interest in learning activities.

What did the findings indicate about the engagement factors?

Three factors—tutorial participation, LMS participation, and motivation and interest—showed significant relationships with the three assessment components.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Marglet