Teaching with purpose: student engagement and institutional support as key drivers

Brajdić Vuković, Marija and Miočić, Ivana and Ledić, Jasminka (2026) Teaching with purpose: student engagement and institutional support as key drivers. Journal of effective teaching in higher education, 8 (1). pp. 107-124. ISSN 2578-7608

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Abstract

IN ENGLISH: This study explores how university teachers develop and sustain a positive attitude toward teaching in higher education, emphasizing the role of emotional engagement, professional development, and student interaction. Building on the Positive Attitude Towards Teaching in Higher Education (PATTHE) framework, we employed creative qualitative methods—including keyword elicitation, photo-based prompts, and vignettes—with 39 Croatian university teachers from diverse disciplines and career stages. Findings reveal that teachers’ enthusiasm and motivation are closely linked to meaningful relationships with students, personal growth, and institutional recognition of teaching. However, tensions between teaching and research responsibilities, lack of structured support, and administrative burdens often undermine these attitudes. Participants offered critical yet affirming reflections on the PATTHE framework, highlighting areas for its refinement. This study underscores the importance of institutional investment in mentoring, pedagogical training, and recognition systems that center the affective and relational dimensions of teaching in higher education. Although grounded in the Croatian context, the findings reflect challenges and insights relevant to higher education institutions globally. --------------- IN CROATIAN: Ovo istraživanje ispituje kako sveučilišni nastavnici razvijaju i održavaju pozitivan odnos prema poučavanju u visokom obrazovanju, s naglaskom na ulogu emocionalne angažiranosti, profesionalnog razvoja i interakcije sa studentima. Polazeći od okvira pozitivnog odnosa prema poučavanju u visokom obrazovanju, primijenili smo kreativne kvalitativne metode, uključujući eliciranje ključnih riječi, foto-poticaje i vinjete, na uzorku od 39 nastavnika s hrvatskih sveučilišta iz različitih disciplina i karijernih faza. Rezultati pokazuju da su entuzijazam i motivacija nastavnika snažno povezani s kvalitetnim odnosima sa studentima, osobnim razvojem i institucionalnim priznanjem nastavnog rada. Međutim, napetosti između nastavnih i istraživačkih obveza, nedostatak strukturirane podrške te administrativna opterećenja često potkopavaju takve stavove. Sudionici su ponudili kritičke, ali afirmativne refleksije o okviru, ističući mogućnosti njegova daljnjeg unaprjeđenja. Istraživanje naglašava važnost institucionalnih ulaganja u mentorstvo, pedagoško usavršavanje i sustave priznanja koji u središte stavljaju afektivnu i relacijsku dimenziju poučavanja u visokom obrazovanju. Iako je utemeljeno u hrvatskom kontekstu, nalazi upućuju na izazove i uvide relevantne za visokoškolske institucije globalno.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Language: English. - Title in Croatian: Poučavanje sa svrhom: angažman studenata i institucionalna podrška kao ključni pokretači.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Positive attitude toward teaching, higher education, teacher-student interaction, pedagogical development, qualitative research (pozitivan odnos prema poučavanju, visoko obrazovanje, interakcija nastavnika i studenata, pedagoški razvoj, kvalitativno istraživanje)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HM Sociology L Education > L Education (General)
Depositing User:	Karolina
Date Deposited:	16 Feb 2026 12:43
Last Modified:	16 Feb 2026 12:43
URI:	http://idiprints.knjiznica.idi.hr/id/eprint/1291

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