Joanne Dolan
Co-Founder, Teen-Turn
Higher education institutions (HEIs) must act now to provide a safe pathway to their students from the first day to graduation day.
Transitioning from secondary to post-secondary education is as complex as it is trying for young people.
Crisis in student welfare
Within the context of recent budget cuts and the current cost of living crisis, the compounding of financial strain, accommodation scarcity, social isolation from former school and hometown peer groups, plus pressure to succeed in an academically competitive environment — where expectations and workload are a step up and bursaries and scholarships are reliant on performance — is a detrimental combination.
A study published in Issues in Mental Health Nursing of first-year undergraduate students in Ireland found that 28.5% reported suicidal ideation, exceeding international norms. Clearly, now is not the time to withdraw resources and support from students in higher education.
Now is not the time to withdraw
resources and support from
students in higher education.
Corrective measures
To protect Ireland’s future, we need to protect the generation that will be relied upon to continue the country’s track record in high employment rates, job growth, female participation in the workforce and regional opportunities fostering entrepreneurship and small local businesses. This means adopting strategies for student health and wellbeing, such as those identified in the Higher Education Authority (HEA) framework.
While government decision-making takes time, whole-institution approaches can be implemented with some immediacy. Directing energies towards health awareness, access to support and staff training campaigns would not only foster positive learning environments; it would also introduce early intervention opportunities by embedding wellbeing checkpoints in teaching, learning and social activities on campuses.
Safeguarding student success
Ireland’s place in the global economy hinges on a strong pipeline of talent equipped with the kinds of skills developed through post-secondary education and training. However, this cannot be achieved if we fail to ensure safe passage for our youth during third-level study. Investments in research and innovation are aimless if students never make it in those spaces.
As the school year begins at HEIs nationwide, campus leadership will have to commit to being stewards of student welfare, or the consequences will be dire in the coming years.
