Enhancing emotional intelligence for well-being in higher education: Supporting SDG 3 amid adversity

Orientation: The coronavirus disease 2019 necessitated tertiary institutions to reevaluate their educational paradigms, emphasising resilience and fostering creative mindsets to navigate unprecedented challenges. This disruption evoked distressing emotions, posing threats to academics’ emotional wel...

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Main Authors: Prashanti Maharaj, Anisha Ramsaroop
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2024-11-01
Series:SA Journal of Human Resource Management
Subjects:
Online Access:https://sajhrm.co.za/index.php/sajhrm/article/view/2705
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author Prashanti Maharaj
Anisha Ramsaroop
author_facet Prashanti Maharaj
Anisha Ramsaroop
author_sort Prashanti Maharaj
collection DOAJ
description Orientation: The coronavirus disease 2019 necessitated tertiary institutions to reevaluate their educational paradigms, emphasising resilience and fostering creative mindsets to navigate unprecedented challenges. This disruption evoked distressing emotions, posing threats to academics’ emotional well-being. Such challenges carry profound implications for the attainment of sustainable development goal 3 (SDG 3), aimed at ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all. Research purpose: This study aimed to comprehend and harness the emotional intelligence of academics, with a view to understanding how adversity affects emotional intelligence and emotional well-being in academics. Motivation for the study: The focus on enhancing the emotional well-being of academics directly contributes to the overall health and well-being goals outlined in SDG 3. Research approach/design and method: A quantitative approach with a sample size of 360 academics was drawn from five campus sites from the University of KwaZulu-Natal using stratified random sampling. Main findings: Respondents reported elevated levels of stress and anxiety and a lack of visibility regarding employee assistance programmes (EAPs). Respondents indicated a notable dissatisfaction with the lack of support from the human resource department. Practical/managerial implications: Recommendations proposed in the higher education landscape for advancing SDG 3 consisted of EAP insights and awareness, needs analysis on well-being support and policy formulation. Contribution/value-add: By focussing on emotional intelligence, the study aligned with SDG 3 and presented practical strategies embedded in a model designed to enhance the emotional well-being of academics.
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spelling doaj-art-f5f3f4d018294bbca6fce121130b8e392024-12-03T11:30:42ZengAOSISSA Journal of Human Resource Management1683-75842071-078X2024-11-01220e1e1310.4102/sajhrm.v22i0.2705830Enhancing emotional intelligence for well-being in higher education: Supporting SDG 3 amid adversityPrashanti Maharaj0Anisha Ramsaroop1School of Management, Information Technology and Governance, College of Law and Management Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, DurbanSchool of Management, Information Technology and Governance, College of Law and Management Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, DurbanOrientation: The coronavirus disease 2019 necessitated tertiary institutions to reevaluate their educational paradigms, emphasising resilience and fostering creative mindsets to navigate unprecedented challenges. This disruption evoked distressing emotions, posing threats to academics’ emotional well-being. Such challenges carry profound implications for the attainment of sustainable development goal 3 (SDG 3), aimed at ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all. Research purpose: This study aimed to comprehend and harness the emotional intelligence of academics, with a view to understanding how adversity affects emotional intelligence and emotional well-being in academics. Motivation for the study: The focus on enhancing the emotional well-being of academics directly contributes to the overall health and well-being goals outlined in SDG 3. Research approach/design and method: A quantitative approach with a sample size of 360 academics was drawn from five campus sites from the University of KwaZulu-Natal using stratified random sampling. Main findings: Respondents reported elevated levels of stress and anxiety and a lack of visibility regarding employee assistance programmes (EAPs). Respondents indicated a notable dissatisfaction with the lack of support from the human resource department. Practical/managerial implications: Recommendations proposed in the higher education landscape for advancing SDG 3 consisted of EAP insights and awareness, needs analysis on well-being support and policy formulation. Contribution/value-add: By focussing on emotional intelligence, the study aligned with SDG 3 and presented practical strategies embedded in a model designed to enhance the emotional well-being of academics.https://sajhrm.co.za/index.php/sajhrm/article/view/2705academicsadversitycovid-19emotional intelligenceemotional well-beinghigher educationhuman resource managementsdgs
spellingShingle Prashanti Maharaj
Anisha Ramsaroop
Enhancing emotional intelligence for well-being in higher education: Supporting SDG 3 amid adversity
SA Journal of Human Resource Management
academics
adversity
covid-19
emotional intelligence
emotional well-being
higher education
human resource management
sdgs
title Enhancing emotional intelligence for well-being in higher education: Supporting SDG 3 amid adversity
title_full Enhancing emotional intelligence for well-being in higher education: Supporting SDG 3 amid adversity
title_fullStr Enhancing emotional intelligence for well-being in higher education: Supporting SDG 3 amid adversity
title_full_unstemmed Enhancing emotional intelligence for well-being in higher education: Supporting SDG 3 amid adversity
title_short Enhancing emotional intelligence for well-being in higher education: Supporting SDG 3 amid adversity
title_sort enhancing emotional intelligence for well being in higher education supporting sdg 3 amid adversity
topic academics
adversity
covid-19
emotional intelligence
emotional well-being
higher education
human resource management
sdgs
url https://sajhrm.co.za/index.php/sajhrm/article/view/2705
work_keys_str_mv AT prashantimaharaj enhancingemotionalintelligenceforwellbeinginhighereducationsupportingsdg3amidadversity
AT anisharamsaroop enhancingemotionalintelligenceforwellbeinginhighereducationsupportingsdg3amidadversity