Imperial Learning Well Project

Project summary

The Learning Well Project is a two-year study (2023-2025) funded by the President’s Excellence Fund for Learning and Teaching Innovation. This project is aligned with the University’s Race Equality Charter Action Plan (2021) and Learning and Teaching Strategy (2017) and the Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy (2023) that have foregrounded the importance of students’ general wellbeing for their academic potential. This work also urges the need for an inclusive and active learning environment that nurtures students to focus on broader educational values and goals beyond attainment. Building on our earlier work on Supporting the Identity Development of Underrepresented Students (SIDUS), our aims are to: 

• Explore Imperial undergraduate students’ study strategies and wellbeing-related issues to identify gaps in current study support and wellbeing resources
• Develop evidence-based materials informed by primary research data gathered from student focus groups and professional conversations conducted with colleagues in relevant departments based across the University. 

For this project (and also following the University’s definition), we have defined ‘wellbeing’ according to the parameters set out in the University Mental Health Charter (2019: 9), which states: 

“Wellbeing will encompass a wider framework, of which mental health is an integral part, but which also includes physical and social wellbeing”. Furthermore, in relation to ‘student wellbeing’ the Charter adds: “...students’ engagement with academic learning is a key component part of their experience and makes a significant contribution to their wellbeing.” 

Understanding how students navigate their academic studies and university life will contribute to our knowledge of their successes, challenges and opportunities, allowing for better support of the wellbeing and learning of our students.