Sonali Bindhani, PhD scholar under supervision of Dr Geetha Gopinath and co-guided by Dr A.S. Jalandharachari, Department of Education and Education Technology (DEET), School of Social Sciences(SSS); L. Lavanya, a master’s student from the Department of Telugu, School of Humanities, S. Ramanjaneyulu, PhD scholar under supervision of Dr A.S. Jalandharachari, DEET, SSS, have participated and presented their research papers at 24th International Consortium for Social Development (ICSD) Biennial Conference. The conference, themed “Innovations in Social Work and Social Development for Sustainable Change,” held January 8-10, 2025, at Rajagiri Business School in Kakkanad, Cochin, Kerala, India.
Sonali Bindhani, research scholar in Department of Education and Education Technology, School of Social Sciences, presented her paper titled “The Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Mitigating Stress and Fostering Enhanced Mindfulness Among Higher Education Students.” Her study highlighted significant impact of an 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program in reducing stress and enhancing mindfulness among university students. The research emphasised the potential for integrating mindfulness practices into student support systems and curricula to promote mental health and academic performance. Dr Geetha Gopinath and Dr A.S. Jalandharachari co-author this paper.
Lavanya L, master’s student in Department of Telugu, School of Humanities, showcased her research on “The Psychological Impact of Digital Storytelling on Identity Formation.” Her paper explored how digital storytelling acts as a transformative tool for identity formation, empowerment, and community building, shedding light on its potential for fostering personal growth and resilience. Ramanjaneyulu, Sahaja Akuthota and Dr. A.S Jalandharachari co-author this paper.
Ramanjaneyulu S, research scholar from Department of Education and Education Technology, School of Social Sciences, presented his paper titled “Psychometric Properties of the Digital Well-being Scale (DWS) in Indian Higher Education Students.” His study validated the Digital Well-being Scale for Indian students, confirming its reliability and applicability in assessing mental, emotional, and physical well-being associated with digital engagement—Dr. A.S Jalandharachari co-authors this paper.
The scholars’ contributions were lauded for their innovative methodologies and relevance to contemporary challenges in education and well-being. The ICSD Biennial Conference served as a platform for these young researchers to present their work and engage in meaningful dialogue with experts and peers, reinforcing the UoH’s reputation for excellence in research and scholarship. The event will also feature special publications in the International Journal of Community & Social Development (IJCSD) (Scopus Q1).