AHJO - Individual and organisatory development of Academic wellbeing

This study examines academic wellbeing in a multidisciplinary way (well-being at work, academic organisations, migration, internationalisation, multilingualism and multiculturalism, rehabilitation, health-enhancing physical activity and health technology).

Sponsor: JYPE-foundation

Research team (phase 1): Taina Saarinen (Finnish Institute for Educational Research), David Hoffman (Finnish Institute for Educational Research), Minna Tervo (Digiterveys Oy), Anu Salpakoski (Peurunka), Johanna Ennser-Kananen (Department of Language and Communication studies)

Research team (phase 2): Työryhmä (vaihe 2): Taina Saarinen (KTL), Taru Siekkinen (KTL), Marc Perkins (KTL), Johanna Ennser-Kananen (HYTK/Kivi), Anduena Ballo (KTL). In the second phase, an advisory group will participate at different stages of the project, with limited access to anonymsied data only. 

The study takes a multidisciplinary approach to academic wellbeing from the perspectives of both the individual and the community. The research team consists of experts in subjects such as well-being at work, academic organisations, migration, internationalisation, multilingualism and multiculturalism, rehabilitation, health-enhancing physical activity and heath technology. The research team connects three of the strong areas of the University of Jyväskylä: languages, culture and communities in global change processes; physical activity, health and wellbeing; and learning, teaching and growth environments that support development. The research team includes researchers from the University of Jyväskylä (Finnish Institute for Educational Research and Department of Language and Communication Studies) as well as Digiterveys Oy and Peurunka.

The research design focusses on experiences of academic wellbeing, examined in relation to academic careers, the inner stratification of the academic community, organisational factors, and the communicative aspects. Both individual and organisational factors will be taken into account in the study.

In phase 1,  we examined the various factors of wellbeing in academic work. Based on the pilot study, continuation of the project was planned for a wider qualitative study on  wellbeing in university work. The initial survey was conducted in two pilot units among the staff and postgraduate students of these departments (N=180). In the second phase, focus groups will be chosen for further data collection.

The study will be conducted using both quantitative and qualitative methods. In the first phase, the staff and postgraduate students of both units will take part in a Wellness 360 survey. The Wellness 360 survey is used to gather information in five different areas: mind, recovery, work, exercise and nutrition. The method has comparable data from e.g. expert workers. Anonymised work wellbeing reports from the University of Jyväskylä regarding these specific faculties will be analysed in relation to the Wellness 360 –survey and previous Wellness 360 data.

In phase two, participants are instructed to collect crowdsourced autoethnograhic observations from different and work situations, in which various circumstances related to the progression of the workday are examined and ethnographic observation of different work situations is done.