Student engagement and mental well-being in the next decade: With reference to higher education in India

The rapid transformation of India’s higher education ecosystem, driven by technology, globalization, and the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, demands renewed attention to student engagement and mental well-being. In the coming decade, as institutions increasingly adopt blended learning, AI-enabled instruction, and outcome-based curricula, the psychosocial and emotional dimensions of student life have become critical determinants of academic success and personal development. This paper examines the correlation between student engagement and mental well-being within Indian higher education, highlighting the importance of holistic institutional strategies that promote belonging, motivation, and psychological resilience among learners.