Belonging in Higher Education: A Twenty Year Systematic Review

Abstract

Belonging is more than just a buzzword; it is a critical factor that affects students’ academic engagement, motivation, persistence, and overall achievement, especially considering the diversity of students in educational settings. The goal of this paper is to dissect the complexities of belonging, examining its various determinants, the diverse impacts it has on student university populations, and the range of strategies that effectively nurture this sense of belonging. We conducted literature search in August 2023 using the Web of Science database, focusing exclusively on publications from the Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice. We used a combination of keywords like ‘belonging’, ‘university belonging’, ‘social belonging’, and other related terms, ensuring a comprehensive collection of relevant studies. A total of 133 articles were identified, with 77 selected for detailed full-text review. The final selection process resulted in 33 articles for the systematic review. Key results from our review indicate that belonging in higher education involves four main themes: connectedness to peers, staff, and the institution; feeling safe and part of the community; being valued and accepted; and embracing diversity and inclusion. These themes reflect a holistic understanding of belonging as a multi-dimensional concept, significantly influenced by institution-wide approaches, inclusive environments, educator practices, and quality relationships. The variation of belonging experiences identifies key challenges such as exclusion of diverse groups, lack of connection opportunities, and insufficient support relationships. Effective strategies for fostering belonging include targeting multiple system levels, building relationships, employing diverse educator practices, leveraging technology and creating inclusive environments.