Developing Future-Ready University Graduates: Nurturing Wellbeing and Life Skills as Well as Academic Talent

Area of Science:

• Educational Psychology
• Positive Psychology
• Cross-Cultural Studies

Background:

• Higher education institutions are increasingly recognizing their role in promoting student wellbeing and essential life skills.
• Existing research on positive educational interventions is often limited to small, elective courses in Western contexts.
• There is a need to evaluate institution-wide, compulsory wellbeing courses in diverse cultural settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effectiveness of an institution-wide compulsory course, based on Seligman's Wellbeing Theory, in enhancing life skills and subjective wellbeing among undergraduate students.
• To examine the influence of curriculum design and educator coaching style on life skills acquisition and student wellbeing.
• To explore student perceptions of the course's impact on their personal growth and future happiness in a Southeast Asian context.

Main Methods:

• Convergent mixed-methods design utilizing surveys and interviews.
• Quantitative analysis involved 350 survey respondents and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling.
• Qualitative data were collected from 11 student interviews.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant, albeit moderate, influence of course design and educator style on life skills acquisition (50.8% variance).
• A very weak, statistically significant effect on subjective happiness and life satisfaction (4-5% variance).
• Qualitative findings indicated anticipated long-term benefits for student happiness and life satisfaction, despite limited immediate quantifiable gains.

Conclusions:

• The compulsory positive education course was well-received by Asian students, suggesting potential for future benefits.
• While direct, immediate impacts on wellbeing were minimal, the course positively influenced life skills and is expected to foster long-term flourishing.
• Integrating positive education with coaching psychology practices is recommended for enhancing university student wellbeing and personal development.