Do student engagement patterns differ across national higher education systems? The comparison of US, Chinese, and Russian high-level research-intensive universities

Originally developed in the US educational context, the student engagement concept has become increasingly recognised internationally. It suggests a particular approach to the evaluation of higher education quality and institutional practices for enhancing student growth. However, the lack of cross-national research on student engagement patterns in various national contexts restricts the implementation of engagement practices in different national contexts. This study uses the data of an undergraduate survey conducted in the USA, China, and Russia (n = 166,919) to explore whether the associations between student engagement and four personal characteristics of students (gender, field of study, year of study, and plans after graduation) are consistent across nations. This research disclosed that the USA, China, and Russia do not vary with regard to the associations between personal characteristics and student engagement dimensions.