THE ROLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN ENHANCING STUDENT WELLBEING

Abstract

Mental health challenges among young people in Kazakhstan have become a pressing concern in the country. However, despite this public health issue, limited scholarly attention is devoted to wellbeing and mental health of youth, including Kazakhstani students. Therefore, the purpose of this thesis is to address the topic of wellbeing among young people in the country. It analyzes wellbeing of Kazakhstani students by studying overall levels, demographic and academic variations, and institutional initiatives aimed at promoting wellbeing, and used a mixed-methods approach by combining quantitative survey data and qualitative interviews. The survey responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis, one-way ANOVA, regression analysis, and correlation matrix. Thematic analysis was used to analyze interview responses that provided in-depth insights into subjective experiences on student wellbeing at campuses. The findings confirm that student wellbeing is a multidimensional concept, encompassing various key components. It concludes that senior students experience lower wellbeing than first-year students, which can be explained by future uncertainties and career-related stress. In addition, Social Sciences & Humanities students have lower wellbeing levels than Engineering students, reflecting Kazakhstan’s prioritization of STEM fields, which leads to clear career pathways and more job opportunities after graduation. However, contrary to expectations, gender and residential origin (urban and rural background) did not significantly influence wellbeing. The thesis also studied institutional wellbeing practices, identifying both effective and ineffective initiatives. It suggests that wellbeing practices at Kazakhstani higher education institutions may lack accessibility, limiting their impact on student wellbeing. Based on these findings, recommendations are provided for universities to improve student wellbeing through targeted interventions for at-risk groups and enhanced institutional support programs.