UNITED KINGDOM
There has been a lot of empathy towards higher education students in recent years. The pandemic has brought tumultuous changes – delaying graduation, freezing studies, and taking classes entirely online.
Long-term adjustments have also been difficult. Overall, the traditional college experience was rich in physical and social interactions, whether through study groups, seminars, or peer-to-peer activities. Today, the shift from on-campus learning environments to virtual and hybrid learning environments has profoundly changed this experience.
The implications are worrying. In a 2022 Student Minds survey in the UK, more than half (57%) of respondents reported having a mental health problem.
Since the pressure to meet deadlines and get grades contributes to increased stress, the consequences of mental health problems can also lead to poor academic performance, dropping out of college, and even self-harm.
It’s clear that more needs to be done to address the growing mental health crisis at universities and ensure students have access to the right support whenever they need it.
Telltale signs of poor health
Even before the pandemic, mental health issues were that plagues higher education. It is perhaps not surprising that only 12% of students think their university is handling mental health well.
With the situation still ongoing, easier and faster access to effective mental health services has never been more important. Now, thanks to artificial intelligence and data intelligence, this is possible.
Location services, powered by network automation, can offer important student data and insights to preemptively flag when an individual might be experiencing mental distress.
Using AI-powered technology, universities can quickly identify withdrawal behaviors – often a telltale sign of mental ill-being. If a student spends most of their time confined to their accommodation or continually misses classes, Location Services will pick them up. By leveraging this data, universities can then offer early intervention, whether from counselors or mental health support teams.
Personalized responses
A very hot topic around the world, advanced AI is making its way into personal, social and professional activities. Higher education institutions should now examine their own progress in digital transformation and assess how AI can improve their IT infrastructures for the benefit of their students. By using location services, universities can ensure that appropriate help is offered more quickly once a pattern of absence is identified.
At the same time, AI can personalize recommended resources and activities based on each student’s interests and preferences.
He can also communicate in a manner the student is likely to respond to – for example via chatbot, by email or by telephone. Tailored services can be a more effective way for educational institutions to improve student engagement and their ability to respond to the support offered.
Not only can AI detect when a student may be removed, but it can also help students thrive by providing more flexible ways of working for different learning styles, whether interactive, audio, visual or simply more collaborative. Each of these, if effective, can reduce study-related stress and improve learning opportunities and outcomes.
Data Privacy
Of course, any technology service provided through the use of data may raise privacy concerns. This is why offering an opt-in approach should be the way to go. Students (and potentially their parents or guardians) will have a clear choice about how they want their data to be used, and those who sign up will not feel monitored during their university experience.
Parents or guardians of students heading off to university will also have greater peace of mind knowing that additional support and social monitoring is offered. By integrating AI into their IT services, universities can improve the level of support provided and students still have the freedom to accept or decline.
Clear and transparent communication from universities about how a student’s data will be used is also crucial for effectiveness. When students are aware that their data will be used to help them in their educational journey – rather than penalize them – there is a chance they will be on board. At the same time, it is essential to ensure clear safeguarding policies and practices to protect unauthorized access to sensitive information.
A proactive approach
The current mental health crisis plaguing the country’s higher education sector cannot be ignored or denied. Educational institutions have a duty to ensure that their students have access to the support they need, both to cope with the pressures of university and to thrive in their studies. And given how smart today’s technology is, it makes perfect sense to take advantage of it.
Location services through network automation can transform IT services for the better. Not only can universities identify, respond, and address problems as they arise, but they can also plan behavior patterns to prevent situations from developing and getting worse.
While a proactive rather than reactive approach will not necessarily prevent mental health issues from occurring, there are at least practices in place to help if or when they are needed.
Jamie Pitchforth is responsible for strategic activities in the UK at a network equipment company Juniper Networks.
