Abstract

This paper presents the activities and results of the transnational Happy Power project. The project aims to improve the well-being of undergraduates and graduates in several European higher education institutions (Spain, Finland, Belgium, Romania, Italy), and propose an intervention model that may be extended nationally and even globally. The Happy Power project focuses on the undergraduates’ personal growth, relying on the theory of positive psychology. By the activities designed for undergraduates, the project promotes positive emotions, optimism, resilience, and strengths to raise graduates’ employability, empower them to cope with a VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity) environment, and experience greater life satisfaction, less stress, and enhanced mental health. In this paper, there are presented the theoretical framework of the Happy Power project concept, project activities and results, and project impact based on teachers’ and undergraduates’ testimonials. The goal is to encourage other higher education institutions to focus on their undergraduates’ well-being by applying positive psychology activities proposed within the Happy Power project.

Keywords: case study, positive psychology,project, students, university