Enhancing Well-being, Learning, Societal Engagement, and Research Skills through Student-led Interventions at a Major Public University in Kosovo

These interventions, developed and conducted as part of the Department of Psychology's internship and student support programs, were designed to enhance well-being, learning outcomes, attitudes, and career confidence among students while contributing to the community and their peers.

A mixed-methods design study evaluated service learning (SL), where psychology interns provided individualized academic and socio-emotional support for children with disabilities. The program, involving 107 interns, led to increased self-efficacy, positive attitudes toward disability, and greater willingness for community engagement. A related study, using semi-structured interviews with 20 parents, explored the outcomes of SL on children, revealing improvements in academic performance and emotional well-being. The outcomes of mutual support groups were explored through two approaches. Based on focus group discussions, the first highlighted improvements in well-being and coping skills among 30 university students who led and participated in the groups. The second, a retrospective pre-post design, assessed 20 higher education students, showing enhanced well-being, study skills, career confidence, and positive attitudes toward mental health support. A pretest-posttest control group design study evaluated a brief CBT-based "Anxiety Toolbox" workshop led by psychology interns for 100 high school students, showing improved emotional regulation, time management, and reduced test anxiety. Lastly, a one-group pre-post-test design assessed mindfulness training on 197 lower secondary school students, showing reduced test anxiety and increased self-esteem. These findings underline the benefits of student-led interventions in enhancing well-being, research skills, and professional development while impacting the community.

This paper was presented at EQAF and reflects the views of the named authors only.

ISSN: 1375-3797

Enhancing Well-being, Learning, Societal Engagement, and Research Skills through Student-led Interventions at a Major Public University in Kosovo

Zamira Hyseni Duraku

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