Emotional intelligence awareness in undergraduate students: development and evaluation of EI materials

In recent years, studies have examined the role of Emotional Intelligence (EI) in education. In both high school pupils and HE students a relationship has been established between academic achievement and EI (e.g. Qualter, Gardner, Pope, & Hutchinson, submitted article). Furthermore studies have suggested that students who demonstrate a high EI score have a smoother transition from school to University (Qualter, Whiteley, Morley, & Dudiak, 2009). Our project aimed to develop and evaluate materials that can be used to increase Emotional Intelligence in students during the transition from College to University. Materials were adapted from “How to make emotional intelligence work for you: A Workbook for students in further and higher education.” (Qualter, Whiteley and Gardner, University of Central Lancashire, 2003). Materials for a series of four one-hour workshops were created, along with an adapted handbook. Participants were students taking part in a short residential summer school (lasting four days) at the University of Central Lancashire before starting their Undergraduate degree courses; and their “mentors” who were all existing students of the University of Central Lancashire. Students and mentors completed evaluation questionnaires for the workshops immediately after each workshop was completed and the EI handbook evaluation questionnaire was completed in the students’ own time and returned on the final day of the summer school. All materials were assessed and recommendations put forward for inclusion in a website which can be accessed nationally to provide resources for educators in FE and HE (as part of a wider HEA Miniproject: The development of Emotional Intelligence within PDP Provision).