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Why students skip class : Exploring absenteeism in first-year engineering education

Nilsson, Sandra LU orcid ; Samuelsson, Jesper LU ; Regnér, Stina LU and Bolander Laksov, Klara LU orcid (2026) In European Journal of Engineering Education p.17-17
Abstract
Student attendance has been found to be a crucial factor impacting their learning in higher education. In recent years, however, student absenteeism has been a growing problem, suggesting that attendance is not viewed as essential for students. This study aimed to explore why students in their first years in engineering education decide not to attend learning activities. A qualitative study including focus group interviews was conducted, showing that high workloads and time constraints, together with the availability of alternative learning resources, are the main reasons for students’ prioritisations, leading to absenteeism. Furthermore, two types—temporal and strategic absenteeism are identified, often triggered by perceived poor... (More)
Student attendance has been found to be a crucial factor impacting their learning in higher education. In recent years, however, student absenteeism has been a growing problem, suggesting that attendance is not viewed as essential for students. This study aimed to explore why students in their first years in engineering education decide not to attend learning activities. A qualitative study including focus group interviews was conducted, showing that high workloads and time constraints, together with the availability of alternative learning resources, are the main reasons for students’ prioritisations, leading to absenteeism. Furthermore, two types—temporal and strategic absenteeism are identified, often triggered by perceived poor teaching and lack of time to develop constructive study strategies. The study calls for a reevaluation of how absenteeism is viewed by university teachers. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
in
European Journal of Engineering Education
pages
17 - 17
publisher
Taylor & Francis
ISSN
1469-5898
DOI
10.1080/03043797.2026.2734199
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
81c81293-d7c8-4ccc-921d-4db83c44bc4b
date added to LUP
2026-09-29 12:20:27
date last changed
2026-09-30 10:09:59
@article{81c81293-d7c8-4ccc-921d-4db83c44bc4b,
  abstract     = {{Student attendance has been found to be a crucial factor impacting their learning in higher education. In recent years, however, student absenteeism has been a growing problem, suggesting that attendance is not viewed as essential for students. This study aimed to explore why students in their first years in engineering education decide not to attend learning activities. A qualitative study including focus group interviews was conducted, showing that high workloads and time constraints, together with the availability of alternative learning resources, are the main reasons for students’ prioritisations, leading to absenteeism. Furthermore, two types—temporal and strategic absenteeism are identified, often triggered by perceived poor teaching and lack of time to develop constructive study strategies. The study calls for a reevaluation of how absenteeism is viewed by university teachers.}},
  author       = {{Nilsson, Sandra and Samuelsson, Jesper and Regnér, Stina and Bolander Laksov, Klara}},
  issn         = {{1469-5898}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{09}},
  pages        = {{17--17}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{European Journal of Engineering Education}},
  title        = {{Why students skip class : Exploring absenteeism in first-year engineering education}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03043797.2026.2734199}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/03043797.2026.2734199}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}