Happy power

How can students flourish in a world full of pressure and uncertainty? Happy Power strengthens student well-being and resilience through in-class activities, a mobile app and teacher training.

Research theme: Learning and developing school together

Field of interest: Education; People and Society

Duration: 2/10/2023 - 1/10/2026

Financing: Erasmus+

In short

Happy Power (HaPo), short for Happiness and Positive Development, supports students in higher education in their mental health, personal development and academic achievement. Grounded in positive psychology, the project focuses on building resilience, social connection and a growth mindset. Through a mix of classroom sessions, digital follow-up via an app and support for teachers, students learn to deal with challenges both during their studies and in their future careers. The programme is developed in collaboration with research partners across Europe.

Need and relevance

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, students across Europe have experienced increased levels of loneliness, anxiety and symptoms of depression. Mental well-being is under pressure, and many students are searching for meaning, purpose and emotional balance. Happy Power addresses this growing need by translating scientific insights from positive psychology into practical tools. The programme focuses on enhancing positive emotions, strength-based learning, optimism and social connectedness. In doing so, it contributes to student motivation, study success and active citizenship.

From approach to impact

Happy Power develops a blended learning programme tailored to students in higher education. Weekly classroom sessions introduce key topics from positive psychology, such as resilience, gratitude, self-compassion and future thinking. Between lessons, students use a mobile app that provides daily reflections and micro-interventions to encourage personal growth. The first version of the programme is piloted with Psychology students at Artevelde University of Applied Sciences and simultaneously at four partner institutions across Europe. Based on feedback from both students and lecturers, the programme will be refined and retested. The final version will be freely accessible to educational institutions across Europe.

In addition to the student programme, a dedicated teacher training is being developed. This supports educators who wish to embed these themes into their teaching or student support activities. The training is also evaluated and adjusted based on user feedback. By combining training, technology and international collaboration, Happy Power aims to build a culture of well-being in higher education—one in which students feel empowered, connected and ready for the future.