This chapter explores the state of well-being initiatives in European higher education institutions (HEIs), focusing on the ENHANCE Alliance—a network of leading research-intensive universities in science and technology. As awareness of student and staff mental health challenges grows, universities face increasing pressure to integrate well-being into their strategic agendas. Through a mixed-methods approach combining desk research and in-depth interviews across ten ENHANCE universities, this study maps existing well-being practices, analyses institutional frameworks, and identifies challenges and opportunities. Findings reveal significant variation in how well-being is defined and implemented, with some institutions embracing comprehensive, systemic strategies, while others rely on fragmented or ad hoc efforts. The chapter emphasizes the need for a shared conceptual framework, stronger coordination, and leadership commitment to ensure that well-being becomes a core, sustainable component of university life. The ENHANCE+ initiative is presented as a key opportunity to develop alliance-wide policies, best-practice toolkits, and integrated approaches that position well-being as central to academic excellence and institutional resilience.

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Well-being in Higher Education Institutions: ENHANCE Alliance Initiatives

  • Łukasz Sienkiewicz,
  • Anna Modrzejewska

摘要

This chapter explores the state of well-being initiatives in European higher education institutions (HEIs), focusing on the ENHANCE Alliance—a network of leading research-intensive universities in science and technology. As awareness of student and staff mental health challenges grows, universities face increasing pressure to integrate well-being into their strategic agendas. Through a mixed-methods approach combining desk research and in-depth interviews across ten ENHANCE universities, this study maps existing well-being practices, analyses institutional frameworks, and identifies challenges and opportunities. Findings reveal significant variation in how well-being is defined and implemented, with some institutions embracing comprehensive, systemic strategies, while others rely on fragmented or ad hoc efforts. The chapter emphasizes the need for a shared conceptual framework, stronger coordination, and leadership commitment to ensure that well-being becomes a core, sustainable component of university life. The ENHANCE+ initiative is presented as a key opportunity to develop alliance-wide policies, best-practice toolkits, and integrated approaches that position well-being as central to academic excellence and institutional resilience.