Student participation in university administration: factors, approaches and impact

Abstract

What motivates students to participate in student organizations, how students participate in university administration decision-making, and how such participation influences students’ overall development is under-researched in Bangladesh. Therefore, to uncover such dynamics we employed document analyses, observations, and in-depth interviews with 25 university administrators, teachers, students, and social and cultural activists. As a result of this research, the findings reveal several factors behind students’ participation in student organizations that also participate in university administration. While such participation is positive for students’ overall development, the participation in university administration is not that effective. This requires of the university administration to reconsider students’ voices and interests while making decisions related to students’ overall development.