Studies Without Worries

Main idea

Outline

Studies Without Worries is an online self-help program for all students of Arteveldehogeschool who, in the course of their studies, are held back by:

• fear of failure,
• lack of assertiveness,
• procrastination.

Students fill in a questionnaire and receive advice on which programme best fits their needs based on their answers. However, students can access all three programs. They are advised to focus on one program at a time, but they are free to switch at any time if they notice that another programme would be a better fit. It is also possible that someone finishes a program and then follows a second program. After all, some issues can be present simultaneously or can be linked.

There are three programmes available:

• How to deal with fear of failure
• Studying with confidence
• How to stop procrastinating

Each of these programmes consists out of four modules made up of various self-tests, information, videos, and exercises, so that students can choose which work best for them. The purpose of these exercises is to offer students tools to better cope with the issues they experience.

Each module has another focus:

• Psychoeducation
• Feelings
• Thoughts
• Behaviours

From these four modules, only the first one focussing on psychoeducation is mandatory. The goal of this module is to give the student some insight into their struggle(s). Students can choose which module they explore next.

Research shows that online self-help can be effective. However, like any form of self-help, guidance or therapy, it also requires an effort from the participant. Studies Without Worries was developed to get students started. It offers strategies that students have to actively practice to be effective in the longer term.

Timing
The online tool is available 24/7. Students can use Studies Without Worries for as long as they find it necessary during their studies at AUAS.

Target group
The target group is students from the entire institution, but this tool is also useful for staff members (e.g., study coaches).

Developed by
This online tool was developed by the therapy team at AUAS in collaboration with a web developer.

Goals

• Offering effective evidence-based information to students struggling with fear of failure, insecurities and/or procrastination.
• Making information and tools to help students easily and widely available to students and staff.
• Guaranteeing the quality and continuity of mental health support for students.
• Helping those students who need help, but don’t find their way to the therapists or group sessions.
• Pointing students in the direction of therapists and group sessions if necessary.
• Helping students realise that they are not the only ones experiencing these issues and helping them feel understood.

Target group

Obstacles targetted:

• Health problems

Students involvement

• Students were involved in the design through beta-testing the online tool.
• The video testimonials are based on real stories from real students.

Inspiration and evidence

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
• The Window of Tolerance by Siegel (1999)
• The solution-oriented approach in coaching

Success criteria

• Students that face the issues mentioned above can find all of the information, exercises and tools they might need on the website without it becoming redundant. Less is more.
• The content is evidence-based, so it will stay relevant.
• The tool is available 24/7 wherever there’s internet access.
• Students can easily make an account with their institutional email address.
• The information on the website is formulated in a way that appeals to students. They can recognise themselves in the examples.
• Studies Without Worries is also used by other HE institutions, which is an indication of its effectiveness.

Points of attention

• It would be nice to add it to the curriculum.
• It might be beneficial to let students choose which module they start with to remove as many barriers as possible.

Do you feel you can effectively provide the support that students require?

Would you recommend this to other institutions?

strongly agree

Evaluation

• The developers of this initiative informally receive feedback from students, study coaches, etc.
• There’s a feedback-prompt on the website.
• The developers of this initiative keep an eye on new findings about online self-help tools and use this knowledge to evaluate the tool.

Adjustments
The layout has been updated to be more modern.

Communication

• The online tool is mentioned on AUAS’ online platform, in newsletters, during staff meetings, etc.
• There has been a big promotion campaign with, for example, felt-tip pens with the logo and website, posters, flyers, etc.

Timing

The online tool is available 24/7. Students can use Studies Without Worries for as long as they find it necessary during their studies at AUAS.

Resources

• Making adjustments (reprogramming) requires technical skills and money.
• Promo and communication are very important to attract new students to the website each academic year.
• Trained staff (e.g., technical skills, knowledge about mental health in the educational context, etc.)
• A web developer

Extra information

• Studies Without Worries
• Presentation (pdf)

Transferability

We think it is easily transferable to other contexts or groups.

It’s easily transferable because it has been translated to English and other HE institutions can easily buy a license so that their students can use it as well. However, it would be hardly transferable if the plan is to develop a similar tool from scratch as it takes great investment in time and resources.

Universal Design
The design of Studies Without Worries wasn’t based on the principles of Universal Design, but it has been developed in a way that as many students as possible can use it, no matter the specific issue they face and regardless of where they study.