http://swrc.ontoware.org/ontology#Misc Student engagement and its impact on achievement in a blended learning environment: a Wawasan Open University case study en Blended learning Student engagement Inquiry framework Jasmine Selvarani Emmanuel Phalachandra Bhandigadi Ch'ng Lay Kee Student engagement Academic progress and skills developed in students in the first year can lay the foundation for success throughout higher education (Pascarella & Terenzini, 2005) and that is why student engagement is considered very vital. Kuh (2009) argues that engagement has compensatory effects on grades and persistence for students who most need a boost to performance because they are not adequately prepared academically when they start higher education especially in an open distance learning mode that relies on learner autonomy, also called independent or self-directed learning. There are various definitions of student engagement but there is a general consensus that it requires both the investment and commitment of the student and the institution Electronic Paper presented at the International Learning Improvement and Teaching Enhancement Conference (LITEC) (23 April 2019, Kuala Lumpur) Wawasan Open University