Impact Evaluation Contributes Ethnic and Cultural Perspectives on the Universal Wellbeing Model Development Journey

Abstract

The Universal Wellbeing Model emerged from a fifteen-year multi-phased, and mixed methods wellbeing research, and evaluation program. Investigations have included traditional, literature, mixed, and practice-based methods, and these have been published. Detailed by the research team, to date have been findings about the effectiveness of both the Whare Tapa Wha, and Whare Tapa Rima, program completion rates in higher education settings. The focus of this paper is on disseminating the unpublished outcomes of a Case Study Impact Evaluation that examined the overall value, and impact of the past investigations to give a voice to the adult higher education students, teaching/research staff, and professional pastoral care/wellbeing practitioners involved. The participatory method used examined the value and impact of these investigations on the three participating groups. This method also considered both the intended, and unintended consequences over time. The evaluation revealed not only unexpected ethnic, and cultural perspectives of the students, teacher/research staff and professional pastoral care/wellbeing practitioners involved but also their willingness to be part of solutions to the challenges identified. Their perspectives have progressed understandings of the complexities, challenges, and ethical dilemmas for those using and providing academic and pastoral care, and wellbeing support services to diverse students in higher education settings globally. The evaluation revealed the intended and positive experiences and consequences, as well as the unintended and negative ones. The analysis of evaluative data gathered reveals the unique capacity of a case study impact evaluation to contribute significantly to the creation of new knowledge, understandings, and practices. These insights then unexpectedly catalysed further discovery, enabling researchers to locate the final pieces of a larger theoretical puzzle under investigation: the nature of wellbeing and ways students and others can empower themselves to transform their wellbeing.