Wellbeing in the curriculum: opportunities and challenges for higher education

This chapter explores how wellbeing embedded into the curriculum and positioning it in the required learning spaces has the potential for wellbeing knowledge and skills to reach the whole student body. This research captures examples of how wellbeing is embedded in the curriculum of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Ireland and internationally. Starting higher education can be an exciting yet challenging time for students and recent concern for student wellbeing is gaining interest. In early 2021 we interviewed representatives from Irish HEIs who were delivering wellbeing classes, held two discussion groups with student representatives, and searched Irish HEI websites for reference to embedded wellbeing content. The findings show opportunities and challenges for curricular wellbeing support from leadership with cross-campus collaboration using a student centered, whole institution approach.