Design deficiencies in campus communal spaces: barriers to student interaction and well-being

Communal spaces in Malaysian public universities play a vital role in fostering social interaction, informal learning, relaxation, and a strong sense of belonging among students. This study aimed to assess students' perceptions of design deficiencies in communal spaces and their impact on the campus experience across selected UiTM campuses in Malaysia. A total of 110 respondents from Universiti Teknologi MARA Perak, Kedah, Pulau Pinang, and Puncak Alam participated in the research. Data was collected through a survey questionnaire distributed via Google Form, allowing students to express their views on the quality and usability of communal spaces within their campuses. The results indicate that the majority of students recognize the importance of well-designed communal spaces. This underscores the urgent need for improvements in campus communal space design to better support student engagement and enhance the overall campus environment. The study contributes to the discourse on campus planning by emphasizing the need for intentional, inclusive, and identity-driven communal environments. It offers practical insights for architects, planners, and university administrators to strengthen place identity, student belonging, and institutional character in higher education settings.