Wednesday Research Seminar Series - Evaluating a Resilience Enhancement Intervention for Students in Higher Education: A mixed-methods programme of research

We are pleased to invite you to our Wednesday Research Seminar. It will be held in-person on 26th February at Oasis Theatre. Wednesday Research Seminar Series was launched in 2008 and has featured more than 360 presentations to date. The seminars provide a forum for researchers to share their work. Presenters include faculty from Middlesex University Dubai and other universities in the United Arab Emirates, as well as researchers from other global institutions. Dr. Elena and Dr Evgenii will present their work on:

Please note the timings have changed due to Ramadan. The seminar will now start 1.45pm

“Evaluating a Resilience Enhancement Intervention for Students in Higher Education: A mixed-methods programme of research”
 Ilham Sebah

Abstract

The journey through university is a transformative period characterised by intellectual growth, personal development, and the acquisition of new skills. Amidst the challenges and pressures of academia, perhaps especially postpandemic, resilience emerges as a crucial trait that enables students to adapt, thrive, and flourish. There is currently a growing need in higher education for a structured, pre-emptive programme of support to help students enhance their resilience to stress. This research presents a mixed-methods evaluation of a transferable biopsychosocial resilience intervention for students – the Resilience Enhancement Programme for Students (REP-S). In Study 1, a randomised control trial showed that participating in the intervention was associated with significantly decreased perceived stress, decreased trait neuroticism and enhanced self-esteem over a period of one month. In Study 2, written and focus-group qualitative data from students provided evidence that the intervention led to perceived positive changes, including sleeping better, dealing more effectively with assessments and managing interpersonal challenges. Future steps in developing student resilience in this current climate are discussed.

Presenter Bios

Dr Ilham Sebah is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Middlesex University Dubai. She holds a PhD in Psychology and an MSc in Clinical Neuroscience from King’s College London. Her doctoral research included developing a resilience intervention for students in Higher Education (The Resilience Enhancement Programme ©) and her postdoctoral fellowship extended this research into the medical field, where she worked alongside junior doctors, consultants and GPs. Her breadth of experience and expertise in resilience has led to contributions in both the public and private sectors, including journal and book publications, science communication and consultancy. Dr Sebah is also engaged in a number of outreach projects and is passionate about sharing knowledge and making science accessible. She is a founding member of the SOFAR Network (Supporting Outstanding Female Academic Researchers) and the ‘Me, Human’ team based at Birkbeck, University of London. Outside of her academic role, she is a speaker and presenter and has spoken on platforms that have included TEDx, House of Commons and Google.