GATES Morning talk - University Students' Education, Health, and Well-Being in Ethiopia: A mixed-methods exploration of individual and contextual factors

A complex interaction between environmental and human factors shapes the experiences of university students, influencing their general health, well-being, and educational engagement and outcomes. This conference paper examines these components and uses current research to show how environmental circumstances, and individual characteristics interact to affect students' health, education, and well-being. To do this, the researcher employed a concurrent mixed-methods design that combines a quantitative survey of Ethiopian undergraduate students’ (n = 435) responses to a questionnaire combined with case studies using individual interviews (n = 9) and focus groups (n = 18) with the relevant stakeholders. The study's findings indicate moderate levels of educational experiences and outcomes, higher levels of severity in general health, and above-average levels of well-being. In terms of group differences, there are differences in students’ scores regarding their education, health, and well-being across sex, disability condition, and discipline type. Regression analysis results also indicate that individual and contextual variables have varying effects on undergraduate students' education, health, and well-being. These findings show the factors associated with the outcomes of undergraduate students. Based on the study’s findings, the researcher provides evidence-based recommendations on how universities might establish more positive and healthier learning environments. Also, the researcher provides recommendations for successful interventions and policies that serve the varied needs of students and facilitate academic success and holistic development in higher education."