… Not drowning, waving. Resilience and university: a student perspective

ABSTRACT Constant change and stress in the workplace require workers with resilience. Universities have a key role to play in developing this vital capability. Past research has measured levels of university student resilience, but little is known about resilience from the learner’s perspective. This semi-structured interview study of 38 undergraduate and postgraduate students gives voice to the students’ own understanding of resilience, strategies which they use to develop their resilience, and how universities can support the development of student resilience. Thematic analysis revealed that students differed in the way they conceptualised resilience according to their year of study and life experience. Maintaining perspective, staying healthy, and developing support networks were identified as key attributes linked to resilience. Findings provide insights into the resilience needs and capabilities of the learning community, and suggest strategies which universities can implement to support resilience development.

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