Student engagement can be defined by two key components, first, what students do (the time and energy they devote to educationally purposive activities) and second, what institutions do (the extent to which they employ effective educational practices to induce students to do the right things). The South African Survey of Student Engagement (SASSE) is based on the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) developed in the USA.
The survey instrument measures five benchmarks for effective education practices namely, level of academic challenge, active and collaborative learning, student-staff interaction, enriching education experiences and supportive campus environment. Data on these benchmarks can support an increased focus on improving teaching and learning practices in South African higher education.