Neglected Students’ Subjective Well-Being in World-Class Universities: A Qualitative Study

  • Esa Nur Wahyuni Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teaching Training, Universitas Islam Negeri Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang, Indonesia
  • Alfiana Yuli Efiyanti Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teaching Training, Universitas Islam Negeri Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang, Indonesia
  • Baharuddin Baharuddin Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teaching Training, Universitas Islam Negeri Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang, Indonesia
  • Ali Maksum Faculty of Social and Political Science, Brawijaya University, Malang, Indonesia
  • Rahmat Aziz Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Islam Negeri Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang, Indonesia

Abstract

Many universities striving for world-class university (WCU) status have increasingly prioritized academic advancement, research, and policy development, often at the expense of students’ subjective well-being. While most studies on the transformation of tertiary institutions into WCUs focus on conceptualization, management challenges, and global impacts, few have considered the well-being of university students. This research aimed to examine the neglect of students’ subjective well-being in universities aspiring to achieve WCU status and to explore the underlying reasons for this oversight. The researchers employed a qualitative approach, collecting data through in-depth interviews with students, lecturers, and university administrators, as well as through observations and document analysis, to investigate the marginalization of students’ well-being. These findings reveal that universities targeting world-class status often overlook students’ well-being in their policies, infrastructure, and institutional culture. The study calls for increased awareness of students’ subjective well-being in the academic community and the provision of structural support for students’ mental health.

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Published
2024-09-30
How to Cite
WAHYUNI, Esa Nur et al. Neglected Students’ Subjective Well-Being in World-Class Universities: A Qualitative Study. Jurnal Ilmiah Peuradeun, [S.l.], v. 12, n. 3, p. 963-986, sep. 2024. ISSN 2443-2067. Available at: <http://journal.scadindependent.org/index.php/jipeuradeun/article/view/1245>. Date accessed: 10 oct. 2024. doi: https://doi.org/10.26811/peuradeun.v12i3.1245.