Meditation in Higher Education: Enhancing Student Success
The Science Behind Meditation and Cognitive Enhancement:
Research indicates that meditation can profoundly impact the brain, enhancing areas responsible for memory, attention, and emotional regulation. Meditation in Higher Education can lead to improvements in academic performance and a reduced sense of overwhelm in challenging environments.
Meditation Practices for the Academic Setting:
Introducing simple, practical meditation exercises into the higher education classroom can offer students and educators alike a way to manage stress, increase focus, and foster a supportive learning atmosphere.Case Studies: Meditation’s Impact on Academic Performance:
Several studies demonstrate a correlation between meditation and improved academic performance or success:- A study by Hall (1999) found that the cumulative grade point average was significantly higher for the group of students who practised meditation compared to the non-meditating group over an entire academic year. 1
- Fergusson, Bonshek, and Boudigues (1994) implemented meditation practice in higher education institutions in Cambodia after the civil war. The results showed a significant increase in educational outcomes like intelligence, health, moral reasoning, and overall grade point average for the meditating students. 1
- A randomized controlled trial by Lin and Mai (2018) found that the group receiving a mindfulness meditation intervention had better short-term academic performance compared to the control group, although long-term performance was similar between groups. 3
- Within the experimental group in Lin and Mai’s study, students with high meditation depth achieved better short-term academic performance than those with low meditation depth, suggesting a correlation between meditation practice and academic scores. 3
- A study by Baranski and Was (2019) investigated if mindfulness meditation could improve short-term and long-term academic achievement in a higher education course, implying a potential link between the two. 2
Personal Stories: Students’ Transformative Experiences:
One student’s comments on how meditation helped them.
“It has helped me significantly. Being able to focus for extended periods of time without getting frustrated. Having been someone who characterized himself with ADHD traits, this was completely unheard of for me. I needed some sort of ‘stimulation’ in order to do anything. Usually, it was the stress of a looming deadline or exam hanging over my head which allowed me to focus and learn. After learning the art of meditation, I find it far easier to stay mindful and focused during my learning, and as a side-effect of the meditation, I have more energy in general and feel more motivated.”