Collaborative Question and Answer for Student-Centered Academic Support in Malaysian Universities

Abstract

Success in higher education, especially within institutions offering diverse programs and experiencing increasing student populations, depends on effective academic support. Traditional methods, such as lecturer consultations and peer interactions via messaging platforms, often face limitations in scalability, knowledge management, and accessibility. Collaborative Question-and-Answer (Q&A) systems have emerged as a technology-driven approach to address these challenges, providing scalable peer learning, reducing lecturer workload, and creating structured repositories of academic knowledge. This review paper explores the current landscape of collaborative Q&A systems in higher education, highlighting their contributions to student engagement, critical thinking, and self-regulated learning. Furthermore, it identifies key design considerations and research gaps that must be addressed to establish a sustainable, student-centered academic support ecosystem.