How can the well-being of students and the academic community be promoted at our university? What is meant by student well-being work? Who is responsible for the well-being of the university community? What types of guidance and support are offered to students at UEF?
The objective of student well-being work is to promote students’ health and ability to study and well-being in learning communities and to prevent social exclusion. Other objectives include creating healthy and safe study and learning environments and fostering the mental health of students by means of both community and individual support.
Student well-being and study ability team (hyry)
The university has appointed a Student Well-being and Study Ability Team (HYRY). The composition of the team is multidisciplinary and its work supports the strategy of UEF. Head of Student Services Tuija Pasanen (e-mail: firstname.lastname(at)uef.fi), acts as the chair of the team and coordinates student well-being work at UEF, secretary of the team is educational psychologist Mari Tirronen. The team is composed of representatives from each UEF faculty (substance abuse contact persons), the Language Centre, the Student Union, Aducate, and Student and Learning Services. The team’s meetings are based on specific themes, and various experts are actively invited to and consulted in the meetings. The team works closely with its network of experts while also taking into account staff well-being and development.
Psychological and physical well-being are needed to succeed in studies and have a good life. In addition to studying, students need to find time for themselves, their friends and their hobbies.
Student Well-being and Study Ability Team (HYRY) works in close cooperation with the Coordination and Development Team for Guidance (Okke). Head of Education Annikki Honkanen acts as the chair of the team Okke and secretery is Amanuensis Heli Kemppainen. Effective and comprehensive guidance for students plays an important role in fostering the well-being of students and well-being at work. See Student counselling.
Statutory health and safety audits of the study environments are carried out at UEF every three years For further information, see National Institute for Health and Welfare publication: Guide to multidisciplinary auditing of environments and communities; Hietanen-Peltola & Korpilahti, 2015 (pdf, in Finnish, opens in a new tab). Audits have been carried out in 2015 and 2018. Further information in Heimo (opens in a new tab, logging required).
Bridges -project supports students wellbeing
The Ministry of Education and Culture has awarded the university a special grant for 2021 and 2022 to take the measures necessitated by the coronavirus epidemic to reinforce support for student counselling and student wellbeing.
The two-year Bridges -project aims to take action to strengthen the engagement and inclusion of students and prevent exclusion. The project will realise the digitalisation of student advice services/psychosocial support and support subject and peer tutoring by promoting collaboration between actors. The project supports the studying capacity and inclusion of students, and promotes wellbeing through peer activities, community support actions and activities.
Further information: Head of Student Services Tuija Pasanen (Bridges -project) and International Affairs Coordinator Anna Jetsu (sub-project in international mobility services).
Links:
FSHS, Finnish Student Health Service (opens in a new tab)