The interconnectedness between the wellbeing of undergraduate students of religion studies and the curriculum
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Date
Authors
De Jager, Sarina
Eloff, Irma F.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of KwaZulu-Natal, School of Religion, Philosophy and Classics
Abstract
This study investigated the factors that support the wellbeing of undergraduate
students in religion studies and religion at a large public university in South Africa.
An ethnomethodological, interpretive research design was adopted to explore the
intricacies between students’ wellbeing and the environment within which they pursue
their academic aspirations in religion studies. Data were collected through face-to-face
interviews ( n= 20) and two focus group discussions ( n= 8 ) . The interviews were audio-
recorded, transcribed, and verified independently. The data were then analysed by
means of interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) . IPA provides an avenue for
detailed examinations of personal lived experiences. Two unique themes emerged from
the analysis, namely, that the wellbeing of the religion studies students in the study was
supported by i) the pre-existing theoretical content of their theological studies, and ii)
the quality of the academic relationship with their lecturers. This reconnaissance of the
terrain of the lived experiences and wellbeing of religion studies students indicated the
distinct nature of the constellations of wellbeing for students of religion studies, the
entrenched symbiosis between curricula, the paradigms underpinning the curricula, and
the role of lecturers in student wellbeing.
Description
Keywords
Undergraduates, Public universities and colleges, Religious education -- Curricula, Teacher-student relationships, South Africa (SA), Well-being, SDG-03: Good health and well-being, SDG-04: Quality education
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG-03:Good heatlh and well-being
SDG-04:Quality Education
SDG-04:Quality Education
Citation
De Jager, S. & Eloff, I.F. 2023, 'The interconnectedness between the wellbeing of undergraduate students of religion studies and the curriculum', Journal of Theology for Southern Africa, vol. 175, pp. 4-20.