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Summer school: Health and Happiness

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Studies show that individuals can actively influence their own health and well-being. Numerous interventions and techniques, often with the use of technology, have been developed to help people improve their well-being and health. In this course you will learn about the different approaches, methods, and interventions that are used to improve happiness and well-being.

In this summer course, we will address a couple of questions:

  • What makes people happy?
  • Which methods can be used to study health and happiness?
  • Which interventions can be used to enhance well-being, happiness and health?
  • What role can design and technology play to support health and well-being?

Inspired by a combination of insights from positive and health psychology, and design and technology this course will help you address these questions. You will work on several projects related to well-being and health, with the ultimate goal to boost health, both physically and mentally. Together with students from the Design the future track you will work on a project and design your own intervention to enhance well-being. You will also try out different interventions and trainings yourself to get a first-hand experience of their effect.

Testimonial: Deirdre (from Ireland)

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Course topics

Together with other participants you will discover and learn more about these topics:

  • Fundamentals

    You will learn about the core pillars of this course, including the basics of positive psychology, health psychology, behavioural change, mental health and mindfulness. Furthermore, you will learn more about yourself in the scope of this course.

  • Overview of workshops and lectures

    In different online and in-person lectures and interactive workshops you will also learn about several topics related to mental health, behavioural change, positive psychology and health psychology – aimed at improving well-being. Some of these are introductory workshops and lectures, while others are about specifically applying knowledge from these disciplines in practice. The topics included in this course are:

    • Positive Psychology
    • Mental Health
    • Mindfulness
    • Health Psychology
    • E-Health
    • Design and Behaviour Change
    • Compassionate Technology
    • Cultural and Narrative Psychology
  • Positive (clinical) psychology

    Positive psychology approach looks at mental health from the perspective of people’s strengths. Strengths are positive features, such as wellbeing, talents and resilience. You will be introduced to various concepts and interventions based on positive psychology and learn how this approach can complement the traditional psychopathological approach to improve mental health. In a group project, you will integrate the knowledge and skills that you have gained in a treatment plan and reflect on your own vision on the positive psychological approach.

  • Mindfulness

    Besides learning about various applications of positive psychology and technology on improving health and mental health, you will also experience and practice mindfulness and autobiographical writing throughout this course. In these sessions, you will learn about improving your awareness and integrating core self-compassion exercises into daily life.

  • Experience sampling

    The method of experience sampling offers the opportunity to assess people’s emotional states, perceptions, thoughts or other aspects on several occasions per day. This intensive assessment method allows to gain new insights into how constructs develop over time and helps to better understand the dynamics of psychological processes. In this workshop you will learn about the background, application and pros and cons of this method.

  • Designing your own intervention

    You will work in groups of around 4 students on a project in which you design an intervention. This project will be conducted in cooperation with students from the Design the Future track. By this, knowledge from design experts can be combined with your knowledge about how to improve well-being and happiness.

  • Presenting your intervention

    You have designed your own intervention, but now you need to convince other parties of the excellence of it and motivate them to implement your idea. During the last day you will present your results to the group and to a jury of experts.

Learning outcomes

Participants will...

  • learn and understand important psychological concepts and principles.
  • learn about the foundational principles of positive psychology, and how positive psychological perspectives are combined with health psychology and technology to improve happiness and well-being.
  • gain knowledge about positive education, learn to identify individual character strengths and implications for improving learning.
  • learn about the underlying theories of mindfulness and practice techniques that can be applied in everyday situations.
  • learn about the state-of-the-art methodologies to change behavior, and measure and track health and well-being.
  • apply newly gained knowledge in creating behavioural change interventions to improve health and happiness in various settings (workplace, schools, healthcare).

Course aims

  • Knowing how to improve health and well-being in several areas
  • Designing technological interventions to improve health and well-being
  • Applying knowledge from health psychology, positive psychology, communication sciences, and eHealth to improve health and well-being 

Course details

  • Date: 2 - 15 August, 2021
  • Format: Fully online
  • Methods: Lectures from experts of the field, interactive workshops, project work
  • Course level: Beginner's/Intermediate/Advanced
  • Target group: Everyone with an interest in technological interventions with a human touch to improve health and well-being.
  • Required knowledge: There are no entry requirements for this course but an interest in psychology and converting theory into practice is desired.
  • Credits: 2 ECTS for successfully completing the summer school

Course leaders

H. Wagner MSc (Henrike)
Lecturer
+31534899180
 h.wagner@utwente.nl
A.Y. Sonawane MSc (Apoorva)
Lecturer
+31534896856
 a.y.sonawane@utwente.nl
Building: Vrijhof Building: Vrijhof
dr. P. Gül (Pelin)
Lecturer
+31534899441
 p.gul@utwente.nl
Building: Cubicus B127A

Course schedule

NOTE: The CuriousU schedule is based on the CEST timezone. Next to the summer school course, you can enjoy our social programme built around the courses.

X

Day
Free day
Time:09:00 - 20:00
Day:Sat. 07-08

Enjoy your weekend and see you Monday!

Growth Mindset, Character Strengths and Well-Being
Time:09:45 - 12:00
Day:Fri. 06-08

Students learn about concepts of well-being, their character strengths and developing a growth mindset, etc. 

Intro to Psychopathology
Time:09:45 - 10:45
Day:Wed. 04-08

Lectures on basic concepts in psychopathology.

Well-Being Therapy
Time:11:00 - 12:00
Day:Wed. 04-08

Microlectures on the practice of WBT, a psychotherapeutic technique of improving well being. 

Introduction to Health Psychology
Time:09:45 - 10:45
Day:Tue. 10-08

Students will be introduced to health psychology and some of the well-known practices.

Introduction to Mindfulness
Time:11:00 - 12:00
Day:Tue. 03-08

Introduction to the practice of mindfulness and some insight into what the students will be practicing in the following sessions. 

Autobiographical Writing
Time:11:00 - 12:00
Day:Mon. 09-08

Microlectures on autobiographical writing. Students will do different exercises to start the writing process.

Narrative Psychology
Time:09:45 - 10:45
Day:Mon. 09-08

Microlectures on meaning in life.

Project Presentations
Time:09:45 - 12:00
Day:Fri. 13-08

Each group will present their psychological intervention. The students, guest speakers and teachers will have the opportunity to ask questions or hold a discussion.

Introduction Health & Happiness
Time:11:00 - 12:00
Day:Mon. 02-08

Introduction to the course content and geting to know each other.

Project: Behaviour Change
Time:11:00 - 12:00
Day:Wed. 11-08

Students will be introduced to the topic of the final group project.

Free day
Time:09:00 - 20:00
Day:Sun. 08-08

Enjoy your weekend and see you Monday!

Goodbye!
Time:09:00 - 20:00
Day:Sat. 14-08
Project: Behaviour Change
Time:09:00 - 12:00
Day:Thu. 12-08

Students will work together in smaller project groups on developing a psychological intervention to promote well-being.

Introduction to Positive Psychology
Time:09:45 - 10:45
Day:Tue. 03-08

Microlectures on basic concepts in positive psychology.

Project Treatment Plan
Time:09:45 - 12:00
Day:Thu. 05-08

Students will work on a short group project in order to develop a treatment plan for a case study. 

Laughter Workshop
Time:09:00 - 09:30
Day:Tue. 03-08

Interactive session on Laughing.

Mindfulness
Time:09:00 - 09:30
Day:Fri. 06-08

Students practice mindfulness techniques throughout the course. 

Mindfulness
Time:09:00 - 09:30
Day:Wed. 04-08

Students practice mindfulness techniques throughout the course. 

Mindfulness
Time:09:00 - 09:30
Day:Thu. 05-08

Students practice mindfulness techniques throughout the course. 

Mindfulness
Time:09:00 - 09:30
Day:Mon. 09-08

Students practice mindfulness techniques throughout the course. 

Mindfulness
Time:09:00 - 09:30
Day:Tue. 10-08

Students practice mindfulness techniques throughout the course. 

Mindfulness
Time:09:00 - 09:30
Day:Wed. 11-08

Students practice mindfulness techniques throughout the course. 

E-Health Interventions
Time:11:00 - 12:00
Day:Tue. 10-08

After learning about some basic concepts in health psychology, students will be introduced to some ongoing studies in the field.

Introduction to Usability
Time:09:45 - 10:45
Day:Wed. 11-08

After learning about psychological interventions, students will learn about the basics of usability and get some insights into applying this for the final project.

Project: Behaviour Change
Time:09:00 - 09:30
Day:Fri. 13-08

Wrapping up final tasks of the project.

Opening CuriousU
Time:09:00 - 10:30
Day:Mon. 02-08

Today CuriousU officially starts, welcome!

Online Farewell Ceremony
Time:13:30 - 15:30
Day:Fri. 13-08

This is it! This evening we close off CuriousU 2021 summer school, you receive your certificate and say good bye to your new international friends.

Want to know more?

If you need to know more, we have information available about the fee & programme, an admission check, registration & payment, visa, accomodation and the terms & conditions.

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