“University as community: students’ perceptions of participation, engagement and belonging at European higher education institutions” is a report that was produced as part of the international UNICOMM project. The work on the publication was coordinated by the Volunteer Centre of the UW.

The UNICOMM project is carried out by the Volunteer Centre of the University of Warsaw and it serves to explore the expectations and needs of students and employees of the UW. Its main objectives include the identification of patterns and factors supporting the inclusion and active participation of students in the social life of the University, the improvement of their competences and the development of guidelines for the University’s organisational structures. The first initiative was the preparation of a questionnaire, the results of which allow the analysis of factors influencing the creation of bonds between students and the university understood both as an institution and a community.

Report findings

The report “University as community: students’ perceptions of participation, engagement and belonging at European higher education institutions” is based on the responses of 465 European university students from over twenty countries. It covers issues such as students’ assessment of the ways in which they are supported by their university, the types and motivations of their involvement in extra-curricular activities, the challenges of student life, peer relationships and time management. The report shows that students are eager to engage in university-related activities and mostly feel supported by their institutions. The publication provides practical recommendations to help universities to create inclusive spaces for the most diverse student groups possible.