Students Wellbeing Services.

With colleagues across our sector having spent up to 18 months reaching, meeting, assessing and admitting our latest batch of students, amidst what is arguably the most challenging acquisition environment ever seen by UK education establishments, the sector must now move into a mode of how to retain them and help them achieve, which is not only part of the commonly understood commitment to those learners, but vital for any institution’s success, reputation and longevity.

More Information

Blog Post Available

An abridged version of a blog post on the topic of our transformative VR technology was published by our strategic partner Independent Higher Education, and is available in full for you to read, by clicking here.

BREAKTHROUGH TECHNOLOGY

Improve the lives of students at scale.

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) has long been recognised as an effective method for managing stress and anxiety. Recent studies have explored the potential of VR (Virtual Reality) as an effective way of delivering MBCT-based courses, to not only help people who are experiencing low mood and anxiety, but proactively provide them with the kinds of tools that were previously only possible when delivered by counsellors and coaches. We are working in partnership with Tend VR to bring this technology to education providers across the country. Tend’s combined hardware and software offering (or software-only for those institutions who already have compatible headsets) provides two distinct kinds of activity, both based on MBCT. The first is a series of relaxation sessions that can be undertaken by anybody at any time, and the second is a 40-part course that delivers learning and resilience to those who require specific support with their wellbeing. The technology can be used on-campus or deployed to students for use in home settings, with Tend’s operational teams available to support institutions throughout the process.

Scalable

Scalable for all sizes of student populations and accessible to all sizes of institution.
Our VR offering can work as well for 2,000 students as it can for 20.
This technology quickly pays for itself.
For the equivalent cost of giving one student five sessions with a counsellor or coach, a tend headset could help up to 40 students improve their wellbeing.

Everybody Benefits

Supporting both the academic and commercial performance of the institution as a whole, as well as the wellbeing of students: Improved student wellbeing has a direct impact on academic performance and retention rates. By reducing the incidence of stress and burnout, Tend’s VR technology can help students stay focused on their studies, leading to better academic outcomes. For universities, this translates into improved student satisfaction scores, higher retention rates, and ultimately, better commercial performance.

Help More Students, Earlier

The sector is reporting that the propensity for learners reaching out and asking for help, especially among younger student populations, is very low.
Tend’s team is able to deploy an initial temperature check of your student community at key times, such as induction or pre-examination.
The temperature checks can help highlight certain populations that may particularly benefit from the use of the technology.

Help More Students, More

You can deliver scalable and affordable technology to entire cohorts of students, providing them with the content and tools to proactively improve their wellbeing in a way that works, or consider Tend as additional support for the specific students who most need it.

Consider Staff benefit, too.

Promoting a mentally healthy workplace: By making Tend’s VR technology available to staff too, you will be solidifying your commitment to their wellbeing, improving your employee value proposition and enhancing your ability to recruit and retain staff.

Make life better.

In increasingly difficult circumstances for learners, staff and institutions alike, emerging technologies like Tend VR can make life that little bit easier. Investing in wellbeing can protect your institution’s revenue, safeguard individuals, and improve performance indicators across the board.

There once was a time, long before my career in Higher Education started, in which I thought R’n’R stood for Rest and Recuperation. Of course, today, as a long-time member of that UK HE community, I know better. In fact, Recruitment and Retention (of both students and staff) has never been more on my mind than it is now. I believe that our VR based technology has the power to transform retention within the sector, and improve the lives of students across the country.
OLIVER SUSSATHarding Hub Education Expert
Student Wellbeing Services are available on a standalone basis, or together with other services as part of our Harding Hub 360 package.
Want to know more? Get in touch.