Wellbeing in Higher Education ― Cultivating a Healthy Lifestyle Among Faculty and Students

Academic staff and students within higher education settings are confronted by a learning environment that is academically stimulating, informative, career-focused and socially rich, which can be intensely competitive and highly charged. Within this learning environment, academic staff and students are often at risk of compromising their wellbeing in their pursuit of academic excellence. This book provides an examination of the key areas that are important to the sustenance of wellbeing within higher education settings, with a view to promoting healthy learning environments. The chapter authors are predominantly working in the Asia-Pacific rim, but the book also includes more universal perspectives. The synthesis of the issues covered in the book is crucial to the understanding of higher education as not only an environment for gaining knowledge and skills relevant for success in academic and career domains, but also as an environment for developing socially adept and authentic communication skills. The ideas presented in this book will further assist academic staff and students to consider ways to more fully participate in their learning environment so that they can optimize their valuable contributions to the professional communities they serve.

Marcus Henning currently works as Senior Lecturer and Post-Graduate Academic Advisor in the Centre for Medical and Health Sciences Education at the University of Auckland. He is actively engaged in research and his interests include: quality of life, the motivation to teach and learn, organizational behaviour, and professional integrity.

Chris Krageloh is an Associate Professor in the School of Public Health and Psychosocial Studies at Auckland University of Technology, and a founding member of the New Zealand World Health Organisation Quality of Life Group (NZ WHOQOL Group). His research interests are in psychometrics, outcome measurement, and mindfulness.

Rachel Dryer is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Charles Sturt University and a registered psychologist. She has extensive teaching experience in online learning environments. Her clinical and research interests are in psychological conditions that affect learning and behavior, as well as the learning needs of online students with disabilities.

Fiona Moir is a Senior Lecturer in The Department of General Practice and co-Director of Medical Student Affairs in the Medical Programme Directorate at The University of Auckland. She specializes in mental health and practitioner wellbeing, and has developed a wellbeing curriculum and pastoral care structures in the medical programme.

Rex Billington is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Public Health and Psychosocial Studies at AUT University. Prior to this he served 18 years in the World Health Organization with a career appointment holding senior posts in educational development, in the Global Programme on HIV/AIDS and in mental health.

Andrew Hill is an Academic General Surgeon practicing in Auckland, New Zealand. While his clinical research interest is in perioperative care his role as a Leader of an academic health campus has led to a strong interest both pastorally and academically in health and wellbeing of both students and faculty.