The influences of student engagement, institutional mission, and cooperative learning climate on the generic competency development of Korean undergraduate students

Using multilevel models, this study examined whether the strength of the association between student engagement and development of generic student competencies (GSCs) varies across Korean colleges. Data from the Korean Educational Development Institute’s 2007 national sample and from 5,445 students representing 60 four-year colleges and universities were utilized. The results indicate that a specific type of engagement is linked to a particular learning outcome, which means that not every engagement type has an equal impact thereon. The findings also suggest that in Korea, the impact on GSC of one of the student engagement types, that is, active learning, significantly varies by college mission and the peer climate of cooperative learning.