scholarly journals Development of a Web-Based Intervention Course to Promote Students’ Well-Being and Studying in Universities: Protocol for an Experimental Study Design (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henna Asikainen ◽  
Nina Katajavuori
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Experimental Study ◽  
University Students ◽  
Study Design ◽  
Study Skills ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Web Based ◽  
The University ◽  
Support Students ◽  
Experimental Study Design

BACKGROUND The decline in the well-being among university students well as increasing dropouts has become a serious issue in universities around the world. Thus, effective ways to support students’ well-being and their ability to study are highly needed. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to build an intervention course for university students, which promotes both students’ well-being as well as their learning and study skills, and to describe the experimental study design that explores the effects of this intervention course. METHODS Research has shown that psychological flexibility has a great effect on the well-being as well as the study skills of students pursuing higher education. The basis of our intervention course was to promote psychological flexibility and students’ study skills with the help of peer support and reflection. RESULTS This course was offered as a voluntary course to all the students at the University of Helsinki twice during the academic year 2020-2021. The first course was from October to December and the second course was from January to March. This course was advertised in fall 2020 through social media and by different student organizations and program leaders at different faculties of the University of Helsinki. As of October 2020, we enrolled 566 students comprising 310 students for the course in fall 2020 and 256 students for the course in spring 2021. Of the 256 students who enrolled in the second course, 170 students voluntarily participated in this study and they answered the questionnaires, including all the measures, simultaneously with the participants in the first group and thus served as the control group. The effect of this course will be measured with multiple data, including questionnaire data, reflective journals, and physiological data of well-being with a longitudinal experimental design. This research very strictly follows the ethical guidelines drawn up by the Finnish National Board on Research Integrity. We expect to publish the results of this study in fall 2021 at the latest. CONCLUSIONS We argue that a web-based, 8-week intervention course, which promotes both student well-being and their study skills, is a good way to support students pursuing higher education, and both aspects should be considered when supporting university students. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT DERR1-10.2196/23613

scholarly journals Developing an intervention course to promote students’ well-being and studying in university context

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henna Asikainen ◽  
Nina Katajavuori
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
University Students ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Study Skills ◽  
Psychological Flexibility ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Support Students

Abstract BackgroundThe purpose of this paper was to build an intervention course for university students which promotes both students’ well-being as well as their learning and study skills. Research has shown that psychological flexibility has a great effect on well-being as well as studying in higher educationCase presentationThe basis of our intervention course is to promote psychological flexibility and students’ study skills with the help of peer support and reflection.ConclusionsWe argue that an online, 8-week intervention course, which promotes both student well-being and their study skills, is a good way to support students in higher education and both aspects should be taken into account when supporting university students.

scholarly journals Promoting university students’ well-being and studying with an acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)-based intervention

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Katajavuori ◽  
Kimmo Vehkalahti ◽  
Henna Asikainen
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
University Students ◽  
Time Management ◽  
Study Skills ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Management Skills ◽  
Acceptance And Commitment ◽  
Negative Thoughts ◽  
Learning Journals

AbstractStudents’ poor well-being is a serious problem in higher education. In part, this problem is related to the problems in studying as poorer study skills are related to poorer well-being. Both students’ study skills and their well-being should be enhanced in higher education, but effective ways to do this are needed. The aim of this study was to explore students’ experiences of an ACT-based online, 8-week course on university students’ well-being and studying. Data were collected in two ways: a) with qualitative data consisting of learning journals (n = 97) and with b) a pre- and post-questionnaire (n = 143) during the course. The students’ scores on well-being, psychological flexibility, and time and effort management skills improved, and stress levels decreased during the course. Qualitative analyses showed that the students benefited from the course in many ways, both in terms of studying and well-being; their studying and time management skills had improved and they had learnt stress management skills and how to cope with their negative thoughts. We argue that supporting students’ well-being, as well as their study skills with ACT-based course in higher education studies, can lead to more effective studying.

scholarly journals The Psychological Impact of Strict and Prolonged Confinement on Business Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic at a Spanish University

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 1710 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Marie Garvey ◽  
Inmaculada Jimeno García ◽  
Sara Helena Otal Franco ◽  
Carlos Mir Fernández
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Personal Development ◽  
Business Students ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Anxiety Levels ◽  
Severe Anxiety

The study was carried out to examine the situation of university students from one month after the beginning of a very strict confinement process in Spain during the COVID-19 pandemic. Students responded to a survey which included the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) together with other questions relating to their general well-being from the European Quality of Life Survey (EQLS). A total of 198 university students answered the web-based survey. The questionnaire was generated using Microsoft Forms and was explained and distributed online. The results indicated that around 18.7% of students were suffering from severe anxiety and 70.2% were suffering either mild or moderate anxiety at this point of the strict confinement process. The findings show that when emotional well-being (quality of sleep, the perception of feeling fear, death of a relative) is reduced and material well-being is negatively affected (income level) anxiety levels are increased. On the other hand, the results show that having good interpersonal relationships with family members and taking care of personal development (routines and habits that make them feel good) help reduce anxiety levels. The female students in the sample also suffered higher levels of anxiety than males during strict confinement.

Attending to the Teacher in the Teaching: Prioritizing Faculty Well-Being

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Brianne H. Roos ◽  
Carey C. Borkoski
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Review Article ◽  
Faculty Members ◽  
High Expectations ◽  
The People ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The University

Purpose The purpose of this review article is to examine the well-being of faculty in higher education. Success in academia depends on productivity in research, teaching, and service to the university, and the workload model that excludes attention to the welfare of faculty members themselves contributes to stress and burnout. Importantly, student success and well-being is influenced largely by their faculty members, whose ability to inspire and lead depends on their own well-being. This review article underscores the importance of attending to the well-being of the people behind the productivity in higher education. Method This study is a narrative review of the literature about faculty well-being in higher education. The history of well-being in the workplace and academia, concepts of stress and well-being in higher education faculty, and evidence-based strategies to promote and cultivate faculty well-being were explored in the literature using electronic sources. Conclusions Faculty feel overburdened and pressured to work constantly to meet the demands of academia, and they strive for work–life balance. Faculty report stress and burnout related to excessively high expectations, financial pressures to obtain research funding, limited time to manage their workload, and a belief that individual progress is never sufficient. Faculty well-being is important for the individual and in support of scholarship and student outcomes. This article concludes with strategies to improve faculty well-being that incorporate an intentional focus on faculty members themselves, prioritize a community of well-being, and implement continuous high-quality professional learning.

scholarly journals Reliability of self-employment intentions instrument among international students in Indonesian university

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2.10) ◽  
pp. 76
Author(s):  
Mhd Subhan ◽  
Mas’ud Zein ◽  
Akhyar . ◽  
Mohd Hakimie Zainal Abidin ◽  
Sallehudin Ali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
International Students ◽  
University Students ◽  
Future Study ◽  
The Self ◽  
Cronbach's Alpha ◽  
Self Employment ◽  
The University ◽  
College Personnel

This paper examines the validation instrument used to measure the psychometric status of the self-employment intentions. Self-employment intentions are crucial to identify the university students in order to confirm their decision making. They are a questionnaire to measure graduation in university to start choice on their careers. This instrument is composed of 11 items and was carried out to 115 international students studying in one Indonesian higher education. There were 49 male and 66 female respondents involved in this study. The Cronbach’s Alpha value was .94 which strongly suggest that the instrument has an excellent reliability. This study points out that self-employment intentions are suitable to be used by college personnel and counselors to examine and identify self-employment intentions among international students in Indonesian higher education. Implications for future study will also be discussed. 

scholarly journals Theology and higher education: The place of a Faculty of Theology at a South African university

2016 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaco Beyers
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
South African ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Interreligious Dialogue ◽  
Faith Communities ◽  
African Society ◽  
Tertiary Institutions ◽  
South African Society ◽  
University Of Pretoria ◽  
The University

In 2017, the Faculty of Theology celebrates its centenary at the University of Pretoria. Celebrating a centennial is as much as looking back as looking forward. In a changing world with changing paradigms how does one remain relevant? Different challenges and expectations presented to tertiary institutions of education in a new dispensation puts all concerned with higher education in South Africa under pressure. The question addressed in this article is how will a Faculty of Theology (in this case at the University of Pretoria) remain relevant to such an extent that it is continued to be viewed as desirable to have such a faculty present at a university, participating in the academic process and simultaneously continues to contribute to the well-being of the South African society. The author suggests the following guidelines for consideration. In order to remain relevant for the next couple of hundred years the Faculty of Theology should engage contextually with society, practise interdisciplinary Theology, engage in interreligious dialogue while still remaining connected to faith communities. A paradigm of post-foundationalism enables Theology to exercise Theology in a relevant and meaningful manner.

scholarly journals Perceções sobre criatividade: Estudo com estudantes do Ensino Superior

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria de Fátima Morais ◽  
Leandro Da Silva Almeida
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
College Students ◽  
University Students ◽  
Crucial Role ◽  
Educational Practices ◽  
Education College ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Curriculum Area ◽  
The University ◽  
Source Of Information

No  mundo  atual,  a  universidade  tem  um  papel  crucial  na  formação  de cidadãos capazes de inovar. A criatividade surge, assim, como um conceito a valorizar  no  ensino  superior,  mas  tal  valorização  implica  alterações  no quotidiano  educativo.  Uma  fonte  de  informação  relevante  para  a rentabilizações  das  competências  criativas  nos  alunos  universitários  é auscultar  o  que  estes  pensam  sobre  elas.  Neste  sentido,  a  partir  do questionário  "Universidade  e  Competências  Criativas",  foram  analisadas perceções de 582 estudantes de uma universidade portuguesa acerca da conceituação e da valorização de criatividade no contexto académico. As percepções foram analisadas em função da área curricular de formação e do género, encontrando-se diferenças estatisticamente significativas para ambas as  variáveis.  Os  resultados  permitem  reflexões  no  sentido  de aprofundamentos futuros deste estudo, assim como apontam direções para cuidados e reforços a ter nas práticas educativas neste nível de ensino.Palavras-chave: Criatividade; Ensino Superior; Estudantes universitários; Perceções ABSTRACTIn today's world, the University has a crucial role in the education of citizens in order to innovate. Creativity is thus a concept to value in higher education, but that valuation implies changes in the educational practices. A relevant source of information in order to promote creative skills in college students is to gather what they think about those skills. Through the questionnaire "University and Creative Skills" the perceptions of 582 Portuguese university students about the conceptualization and valorization of creativity in the academic contexts were analyzed. The perceptions were analyzed according to the students curriculum area and gender. Data suggest significant statistical differences in function  of  both  variables.  The  results  allow  reflections  towards  further developments of this study but also point directions to reinforce deliberate educational practices in this level of education.Keywords:Creativity; Higher Education; College students; Perceptions

scholarly journals Development of cooperation in Belarus and formation of personnel potential of the Belarusian State University in the 1920s

2021 ◽  
pp. 71-79
Author(s):  
Siarhei M. Khodzin
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Economic Thought ◽  
Teaching Staff ◽  
State University ◽  
Scientific Schools ◽  
The Status ◽  
The University ◽  
University Science

The relevance of the problems of cooperative construction in the formation of Belarusian scientific schools is determined. The role of the Belarusian State University in the development of problems of cooperation in the 1920s is characterised. The activity of S. L. Pevsner as a representative of the economic thought of the 1920s is studied. In the perspective of «history through personality», the problems of the formation of the personnel potential of Belarusian State University are revealed. The relations between the management and the teaching staff of the university, the status and issues of material well-being of teachers invited to Belarusian State University are characterised. The conclusion is made about a significant personnel shortage and the presence of serious competition in the personnel sphere of university science in the 1920s with the development of higher education in the USSR.

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