Vision on student well-being 

In 2019, the Student Well-being Taskforce issued advice on student well-being to the Executive Board. The advice was grouped into five student well-being priorities:  

• Awareness of student well-being   
• Prevention and early detection   
• Support and psychological intervention   
• Professionalisation of lecturers and student-facing staff    
• Connections and a safe study environment    

These priorities align with the National Action Plan (ECIO, in Dutch) and form an integral approach for improving student well-being. In 2023, Leiden University wrote its own Vision on Student Well-Being (in Dutch). The Joint Action Plan on Student Well-Being 2024-2027 (in Dutch) outlines the framework within which faculties and university departments will work together to achieve the goals set out in the Vision on Student Well-Being.

NSE survey  

The importance of student well-being is becoming increasingly clear. Student well-being was given an average score of 6.57 in the 2021 NSE survey. Students indicated that they would like more well-being support in the areas of: concentration (30.9%), daily routine/structure (29.4%), study skills (25.1%), mental well-being (30.2%) and social contacts (27.3%).   

The Student Well-being Model 

The Student Well-being Model (in Dutch) is used to study student well-being. It shows that a balance between positive (sources of energy) and negative characteristics (stressors) influences students’ results. If the balance is disrupted for longer, this can lead to a decrease in well-being.  

Vier muren en een scherm 

The Four Walls and a Screen study (in Dutch) examines the effects of the pandemic on students at Inholland University of Applied Sciences and its impact on their well-being.   

Running on empty 

Student life is seen as one of the best times of people’s lives. Yet many students experience it as a stressful time. They suffer from the pressure to succeed, which can cause psychosocial problems. Students often keep their problems to themselves and don’t seek help. For more about this, read the study by Dr J.M. Dopmeijer.