UAE students to benefit from GSA wellbeing research

 

Dubai, UAE, 24 July 2018 –   Student wellbeing is not just a national, or a regional issue, it is a truly global issue, according to the latest international study, released by Global Student Accommodation Group (GSA), entitled Student Wellbeing Matters. 

  

After analysing over 10,000 pages of evidence from more than 280 studies, reports and articles from the UK to Australia, GSA and its research partner Red Brick Research have established several clear patterns that are prevalent across all the respective student populations globally.

 

Professor Lindsay G. Oades, Director, Centre for Positive Psychology, University of Melbourne, Australia, said: “As student wellbeing rises on the agendas of universities around the world, this important study addresses the challenges and opportunities of university student wellbeing, including the contribution of the physical and social attributes of accommodation.” 

 

The report found that students were impacted by known ‘stressors’ which generally fell into seven categories; financial pressures; academic stress; long commute times; social pressures – including making friends, leaving established support networks, living in close proximity to others; concerns about employability/labour market competitiveness post-graduation; balancing work and study and housing problems.

 

“With increasing numbers of overseas students studying in the UAE, it is hardly surprising that in effect these ‘stressors’ are far reaching and not simply confined to any particular region. We operate in a global economy, so it is only logical that students in the UAE, feel the same pressures as students in other parts of the world, especially with intense competition for top international career openings, post graduation,” said Tim Klitscher, Managing Director, GSA Middle East.

 

“This study identifies that housing is a key contributor to student wellbeing. It found that student housing and management staff are well placed to act in an ‘early warning’ capacity, and can play a vital role in supporting early interventions, as well as acting as ‘first responders’,” Klitscher added. 

 

GSA has been operating Uninest Students Dubai adjacent to Academic city since 2016, serving more than 30 higher education institutions across Dubai and already adopts a more holistic view of the university experience to help improve and promote student wellbeing.

 

In light of the findings, the study also proposed five key recommendations to provide an all-embracing holistic view of the student experience.

 

GSA which has created a community of students calling Uninest their home providing safety, security and 24/7 on-site assistance for resident students. From September Uninest will be implementing GSA’s bespoke structured Wellbeing program  after the recent rollout in their other locations globally.

 

“Student Well being strategy designed by GSA will be introduced in our Uninest Dubailand residence. At Uninest Student Residences, We have an excellent 24*7 staff for resident support. However, to execute student well being in utmost capacity, our staff at Uninest, Dubailand will undergo a month of training on student well being specifically designed to implement well being programs by the in house staff,” said Klitscher.

 

“We are ready to take our community to the next level and we’re pleased that this approach is consistent with moves from the Dubai Health Authority, to acknowledge and address mental health issues, through promotion, prevention and early intervention.

 

“This international study, simply underscores what we have been already doing throughout our communities and gives us confidence we have chosen the best strategic path. We will continue to benefit from our research and data, to make a real difference to students’ lives,” added Klitscher.