Wellbeing Curriculum Framework

A Comprehensive, Evidence-Based Approach to Student Flourishing

Stellenbosch University

The Mental Fitness Philosophy

Just as physical fitness requires continuous training across multiple dimensions—cardiovascular health, muscular strength, flexibility—mental fitness requires ongoing development across psychological dimensions. Based on Dr. Paula Robinson's groundbreaking Mental Fitness Model, our curriculum approaches wellbeing with the same systematic rigor as athletic training.

The Physical Fitness Parallel

Physical Fitness Components: Strength, Flexibility, Endurance, Team Coordination

Mental Fitness Components: Psychological Strength (purpose, self-efficacy), Mental Flexibility (mindfulness, self-regulation), Emotional Endurance (resilience, optimism), Social Connection (relationships, community)

"You can't expect to be physically fit without consistent exercise—the same applies to wellbeing skills. They require continuous practice and development throughout your university journey and beyond."

Layered Curriculum Architecture

Pre-University: Launchpad to University Success
Mastering Mindsets, Skills, and Well-being before arrival
Rationale: Provides incoming students with foundational wellbeing skills, growth mindset development, and university transition strategies before academic pressures begin.
Year 1, Semester 1: Grow a Gritty HERO's Mindset (Foundation)
Building psychological capital through Hope, Efficacy, Resilience, and Optimism
Rationale: Establishes core psychological resources essential for academic success and personal resilience during the critical first semester transition.
Year 1, Semester 2: Hettler's Model of Wellness
Holistic wellbeing across six dimensions: Physical, Emotional, Intellectual, Social, Spiritual, and Occupational
Rationale: Introduces comprehensive wellbeing framework, helping students understand the interconnectedness of different life domains for sustained success.
Year 2, Semester 1: SEARCH Framework
Strengths, Emotional Management, Attention & Awareness, Relationships, Coping, Habits & Goals
Rationale: Develops practical life skills and emotional intelligence capabilities essential for navigating increasing academic and social complexity.
Year 2, Semester 2: PROSPER Framework
Positivity, Relationships, Outcomes, Strengths, Purpose, Engagement, Resilience
Rationale: Deepens positive psychology principles with focus on cultivating flourishing, meaningful relationships, and sustained engagement in university life.
Year 3, Semester 1: Mental Fitness & Character Education (Parallel)
Developing psychological resources and moral virtues through integrated approach
Rationale: Combines mental fitness training with character development, preparing students for ethical leadership and sustained wellbeing under pressure.
Year 3, Semester 2: PAVING STEPSS (Lifestyle Medicine)
Physical Activity, Attitude, Variety, Investigations, Nutrition, Goals, Social Connection, Time-outs, Energy, Purpose, Sleep, Stress Resilience
Rationale: Focuses on evidence-based lifestyle medicine principles for sustainable health and wellbeing habits as students prepare for post-university life.
Year 4, Semester 1: Grow a Gritty HERO's Mindset (Advanced)
Advanced psychological capital for career preparation and leadership development
Rationale: Returns to core HERO framework with advanced applications for career success, leadership responsibilities, and lifelong resilience building.
Year 4, Semester 2 & Beyond: Profession-Specific & Life-Stage Interventions
Tailored wellbeing support for career transitions and ongoing alumni development
Rationale: Provides targeted support for specific career paths and life transitions, ensuring continuous wellbeing development throughout professional life.
SEL Catchup Course - Parallel Offering
A specialized 15-session online program designed for first-year students with social-emotional learning gaps, particularly supporting first-generation and low-socioeconomic status students.
Core Components: Self-awareness, stress management, resilience building, empathy development, communication skills, decision-making, and academic life navigation. Features gamified learning with badges and certificates to enhance engagement and motivation.

Evidence-Based Wellbeing Models

Our curriculum integrates the most robust, research-validated wellbeing frameworks

SEARCH Wellbeing Model
A comprehensive framework focusing on practical life skills and emotional intelligence development for university students.
  • Strengths: Identifying and leveraging personal capabilities
  • Emotional Management: Regulation and awareness skills
  • Attention & Awareness: Mindfulness and focus development
  • Relationships: Social connection and communication
  • Coping: Stress management and resilience strategies
  • Habits & Goals: Behavior change and achievement frameworks
PROSPER Framework
A positive education framework designed to help students thrive through seven evidence-informed pathways to wellbeing.
  • Positivity: Cultivating positive emotions and optimism
  • Relationships: Building meaningful social connections
  • Outcomes: Developing sense of competence and accomplishment
  • Strengths: Identifying and applying personal strengths
  • Purpose: Finding meaning and direction in life
  • Engagement: Deep involvement and flow experiences
  • Resilience: Bouncing back from challenges
Hettler's Six Dimensions of Wellness
The foundational wellness model that recognizes the interconnected nature of holistic wellbeing across six key life domains.
  • Physical: Exercise, nutrition, and health behaviors
  • Emotional: Self-awareness and emotional regulation
  • Intellectual: Lifelong learning and mental stimulation
  • Social: Relationships and community connection
  • Spiritual: Purpose, values, and meaning-making
  • Occupational: Career satisfaction and work-life balance
Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)
Evidence-based framework for developing essential life skills through five core competencies, particularly beneficial for bridging opportunity gaps.
  • Self-Awareness: Understanding emotions, strengths, and values
  • Self-Management: Emotional regulation and goal achievement
  • Social Awareness: Empathy and perspective-taking
  • Relationship Skills: Communication and collaboration
  • Responsible Decision-Making: Ethical and constructive choices
Mental Fitness Model
Dr. Paula Robinson's groundbreaking approach that applies physical fitness principles to psychological wellbeing development.
  • Mental Strength: Purpose, meaning, and self-efficacy
  • Mental Flexibility: Mindfulness, self-regulation, acceptance
  • Mental Endurance: Resilience, optimism, and perseverance
  • Team/Social: Connection and collaborative capacity
Character Education
University-level character formation focusing on four families of virtues that contribute to flourishing students, staff, university, and society through practical wisdom.
  • Intellectual Virtues: Critical thinking, open-mindedness, curiosity, academic honesty
  • Civic Virtues: Service, civility, citizenship, social responsibility
  • Moral Virtues: Justice, courage, compassion, honesty, humility
  • Performance Strengths: Resilience, determination, teamwork, confidence
  • Practical Wisdom (Meta-virtue): Integrating competing values and making ethical decisions
HERO - Psychological Capital
Luthans' evidence-based framework focusing on four positive psychological resources that drive performance and wellbeing.
  • Hope: Goal-directed energy and pathway thinking
  • Efficacy: Confidence in ability to succeed
  • Resilience: Capacity to bounce back from adversity
  • Optimism: Positive attribution style for future success
PAVING STEPSS (Lifestyle Medicine)
A comprehensive 12-step lifestyle medicine framework focusing on sustainable healthy behaviors across body, mind, and spirit.
  • Physical Activity, Nutrition, Sleep: Healthy body foundation
  • Stress Resilience, Attitude, Time-outs: Peaceful mind
  • Purpose, Social Connection, Energy: Joyful heart
  • Goals, Investigations, Variety: Action and growth
PERMA-V/H Models
Seligman's foundational positive psychology framework, enhanced with vitality/health components, serving as the theoretical foundation for many other models.
  • Positive Emotions: Joy, gratitude, hope, love
  • Engagement: Flow states and deep absorption
  • Relationships: Social connections and belonging
  • Meaning: Purpose and significance
  • Accomplishment: Achievement and mastery
  • Vitality/Health: Physical and mental wellness

Integrated Digital Ecosystem

Our curriculum seamlessly integrates with cutting-edge assessment and intervention platforms that serve as essential building blocks for all courses in our wellbeing curriculum framework

Hybrid Framework Platform FlourishIQ Assessment Tools HERO Mindset Research

Hybrid Framework: Provides the technological infrastructure for personalized wellbeing interventions and predictive analytics

FlourishIQ Tools: Offers comprehensive assessment and measurement capabilities across all wellbeing dimensions

HERO Mindset Research: Evidence-based foundation for psychological capital development and gritty mindset cultivation

Note: These digital tools form the essential technological foundation and assessment infrastructure that supports all courses within our wellbeing curriculum framework, enabling personalized interventions, progress tracking, and evidence-based program delivery. The comprehensive tool library is described on the FlourishIQ page.