FEATURED ARTICLE 

A Celebration of Learning: The Role of Leisure Activities in Student Recruitment and Student Success

by Dr. Richard L. Carhart 

I have to admit that in retrospect, and irrespective of any assignment or given job title, it seems that I’ve spent my entire career in international education as I learned early on that what is commonly called comprehensive internationalism in academe is really an integral component of any dynamic and proactive educational environment. Integrating a global perspective into the teaching, research, and service missions of higher education is critical to the viability of the institution and to the core learning it provides its students. It goes without saying that the presence of international students on our campus facilitates the exchange of people and ideas while serving to enrich the overall learning environment in which we all participate. I often recall the comments of a well-respected president of a major university in the U.S. who said that globalization broadens and enriches our students’ world…and the internationalization of our campuses prepares them to live in it. How appropriate, and really, how true.

Prospective Student’s Choice of a College or University

Factors that typically influence a student’s choice of a college or university include, but are not limited to, the perceived reputation/academic quality of the institution, the international dynamic of the institution, the availability of the desired program of study, the individual student’s potential for success and job placement, the availability of extracurricular and recreational opportunities (including sports, leisure and athletic facilities, student clubs, etc.), and the overall affordability of the institution. There are also a variety of outside influences which to a greater or lesser degree affect a student’s choice and these include the perspective of parents, the advice of close friends and peer influence, school location, and the perceived quality of teaching.

The factors influencing student’s choice are remarkably similar for international students, and with the addition of distance from the student’s home country and the perceived safety of the institution, differ only in priority of importance. For international students, the recommendation of close friends, overall cost and transportation expenses, the availability of recreational/leisure activities either on campus or in the immediate proximity, and institutional reputation typically impact an international student’s choice of a college or university.

Student Satisfaction

The factors influencing student satisfaction are many and diverse including campus climate/campus life, the availability/accessibility of co-curricular leisure activities, support services available on campus, the quality of academic advising, the approachability of faculty members, the perceived quality of instruction, and campus security and safety. In the case of Prince of Songkla University, Phuket Campus (PSU Phuket), the campus location also seems to play a significant role in student satisfaction.

Often overlooked in the many empirical studies of university student satisfaction is the importance of the environment in which the institution is located. The rigors, demands, and stress inherent in university study bespeak a complementary and supportive environment that is designed to provide opportunities for students to relax, engage in recreational activities, and find enjoyment outside of the classroom. The research in this area is overwhelmingly conclusive–an environment that includes these components positively correlated with student satisfaction, student persistence, academic completion, and overall student success.

Phuket and International Student Recruitment

There is little doubt that PSU Phuket does indeed have a lot going for it. It has embraced globalization and multiculturalism as few universities have and made comprehensive internationalization an integral part of its DNA. The number of international programs is equally noteworthy and the vision and mission of the University embrace diversity, interdisciplinary knowledge, and international studies; all critical elements in attracting both domestic and international students. The University has articulated a bold vision, invested in that vision, and created a strategic plan to advance that vision, much to the benefit of the campus community and to the holistic and picturesque environment of Phuket where the campus is located.

A Celebration of Learning

I can’t help but be reminded of the work of the late Dr. Ernest Boyer, former Chancellor of the State University of New York and president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching in the U.S., as well as a former Commissioner of Education there. A lot of the accepted research on student satisfaction, student recruitment, student retention (and yes, student attrition) was based on his book, “College: The Undergraduate Experience in America.” He often said that our colleges and universities should emulate what he called a celebratory environment…which he concluded would do much to positively impact both college satisfaction and student success. In this context, I often wondered where it is written that university studies (and student learning) should be onerous, difficult, and even at times painful? Perhaps a good litmus test of how well we are doing–in student recruitment, in enhancing student satisfaction, in student retention, and in the internationalization of our campus–is directly related to whether students are benefitting, and yes, enjoying, our efforts on their behalf both in the classroom and in the extra-curricular recreational opportunities we provide for them. And I can’t help but wonder, “Have our students learned to celebrate learning? And equally important, are they having fun?”

The obvious association and importance of student recruitment, student satisfaction, an enlightened and celebratory academic environment, and the availability of recreational and leisure activities provided for the students simply cannot be overstated. The attention given to the synergy created by these variables, which are of paramount importance to our students, is part of the inherent advantage that PSU Phuket enjoys, given its commitment to student satisfaction. This, coupled with its scenic and idyllic location, provides a template how an enlightened university like PSU might proceed in the future, which even the most casual of observers would conclude, is uniquely promising.

About the author:

Dr. Carhart has served as President of Stamford International University, Thailand; Dean of Student Services at Maui College, University of Hawaii, USA; Provost and Campus Director of Southern Illinois University-Niigata, Nakajo, Japan; Provost of the Hawaii Technology Institute in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA; Executive Director of the American Indonesian Exchange Foundation (AMINEF-Fulbright Commission), Jakarta, Indonesia; and Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs at Thammasat University, Thailand. You can reach him via email at richardlansingcarhart@gmail.com.