Assessing student engagement in higher education : validation of the university student engagement inventory among Maltese University students

Abstract

This study examined the psychometric properties of the University Student Engagement Inventory (USEI) among Maltese university students, addressing the lack of validated tools for assessing student engagement (SE) in Malta’s higher education (HE) context. The questionnaire was sent to all 12,400 University of Malta students out of which 323 fully completed the USEI, measuring behavioural (BE), emotional (EE), and cognitive engagement (CE). Confirmatory factor analysis supported both the three-factor model (CFI=0.945, TLI=0.933, RMSEA=0.073) and an excellent second-order model fit (CFI=0.981, TLI=0.977, RMSEA=0.057). Reliability was good for EE (α=0.83, ω=0.81) and CE (α=0.79, ω=0.76), and marginal for BE (α=0.68, ω=0.65), consistent with international findings. Measurement invariance was confirmed across STEM and non-STEM groups, indicating model stability across disciplines. Predictive validity showed that higher SE significantly predicted fewer dropout intentions (β=–0.49, p<0.001) and higher self-reported academic performance (β=0.56, p<0.001). Results confirm the USEI as a reliable and valid tool for assessing SE within the Maltese HE context and confirms its use in identifying disengaged students and informing interventions to enhance persistence and academic success.